Deadly forest fires devastate Chile

Chile has declared a state of disaster in several central-southern regions after a devastating heat wave sparked forest fires that left at least 13 people dead, authorities said.

More than 100 homes have been affected and 47,000 hectares of forest destroyed since the fires broke out on Wednesday.

The death toll included at least four civilians and a firefighter previously reported killed.

The government has declared a state of disaster in the regions of Nuble and Biobio, but fires have also affected the Maule and La Araucania regions.

President Gabriel Boric decided to suspend his holiday to visit the affected area, where there are 204 active fires.

Of those, 56 are considered out of control.

Authorities later said a firefighter had also been killed.

The Senapred national disaster prevention and response service and the CONAF national forests corporation said nine people have been hurt, including eight firefighters.

Some 2,300 firefighters and 75 aircraft are involved in the battle against the flames.

The declaration of a state of disaster allows extra resources to be made available to combat an emergency.

Nuble has been put on red alert, alongside seven municipalities in Biobio.

The heatwave, with temperatures reaching 40 degrees Celsius, has created fears of a repeat of the 2017 disaster in which widespread fires in the same region left 11 people dead, destroyed 1,500 homes and affected 467,000 hectares of forest.