Wildfires

Wildfires Rage in Chile

Parts of South America continue to struggle under blistering conditions.

In Chile, this has caused forest fires to spread rapidly. Residents have been forced from their homes and authorities have been prompted to declare a red alert.

Once lit, the combination of high temperatures, low humidity and strong winds ensure the fires spread quickly, which makes them very difficult to extinguish.

The fires are burning almost 200km to the south of Santiago, but despite the distance, the acrid smoke drifted north and covered parts of the city.

The air quality is believed to be the worst pollution the city had dealt with for a number of years.