QAlmost 2,000 hectares of forest were destroyed in the province of Chubut, in southern Argentina, in one of the first major forest fires of the austral summer in the country, following a strong heat wave. Among the various outbreaks in Patagonia, the largest developed in the Epuyen area, 1,750 km south of Buenos Aires. The governor of Chubut province, Ignacio Torres, spoke, without providing precise figures, of some injuries among people trying to recover objects from their homes. Around 200 families were evacuated. Dozens of homes burned and strong winds made firefighting operations difficult.
The governor also underlined that “two fires broke out at the same time” in difficult-to-reach forest areas. The very dry summer without rain is worrying, with extreme heat this week: 17 provinces (out of 24) are on alert and 37 degrees are expected in Buenos Aires.
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