A devastating forest fire raging in southern Argentina has scorched more than 5,500 hectares of land, with authorities warning the situation remains critical. The blaze, which started on Monday near Puerto Patriada in the Patagonia region, is threatening local communities and has already led to the evacuation of thousands.
Hell on Earth: Communities Under Siege
The fire, located approximately 1,700 kilometres southwest of Buenos Aires, has encircled the town of Epuyen, home to around 2,000 people. The intensity of the inferno has left residents in a state of shock and desperation.
"There’s no way to describe what we’re living through. Every five minutes a new fire starts. It’s hell," shared local resident Flavia Broffoni on social media platform Instagram, capturing the terror on the ground.
Critical Hours Ahead as Firefighters Battle Blaze
Ignacio Torres, the Governor of Chubut province, confirmed the scale of the destruction on Saturday. He stated that 5,500 hectares had been burned and issued a stark warning that the next 48 hours would be decisive due to forecasts of adverse weather conditions that could fuel the flames further.
The human cost is mounting. Authorities have evacuated about 3,000 tourists and 15 families from the path of the fire. Tragically, more than 10 homes have been destroyed by the relentless advance of the wildfire.
Nearly 500 firefighters and volunteers are on the frontlines, battling to contain the spread. Reinforcements are expected to arrive from Cordoba province and neighbouring Chile to bolster the exhausted crews.
A Growing Challenge Amid Climate and Economic Pressures
This crisis highlights the severe challenges facing Argentina's firefighting forces. They are increasingly battling the effects of climate change, which brings higher temperatures and lower humidity to regions like Patagonia, creating ideal conditions for wildfires to ignite and spread rapidly.
Compounding the problem are economic pressures. Firefighters often have to accept low wages following government spending cuts, putting a strain on resources and personnel even as the threat from fires grows.
This is not an isolated incident. Active fires are also reported in other Patagonian provinces, including Neuquen, Rio Negro, and Santa Cruz. The region is still recovering from a devastating start to 2025, when wildfires claimed 32,000 hectares of land.
