Argentine authorities evacuated 3,000 tourists this week from Patagonia's Puerto Patriada district as wildfires fueled by extreme heat and drought continue to ravage the region. Governor Ignacio Torres of Chubut province confirmed the evacuation of both visitors and permanent residents, with helicopters and water-bombing planes deployed to combat flames spanning multiple provinces.
The fires, intensified by temperatures exceeding 40°C (104°F) and winds reaching 70 km/h (43 mph), have consumed thousands of hectares in areas still recovering from 2025's record-breaking blazes. Torres announced a 50-million-peso reward for information linking at least one fire to arson, while the Federal Emergency Agency reported active fires in Neuquen, Santa Cruz, Rio Negro, and southern Buenos Aires province.
This ecological crisis echoes last year's disaster that burned 32,000 hectares during peak Southern Hemisphere summer months. Scientists warn such events may become more frequent due to climate patterns affecting South America's southern cone.
