Argentine Patagonia is going through a tragic summer, with at least five large fires that have already burned more than 20,000 hectares, including in two important national parks and in recent days also in the tourist town of El Bolsón, where the first fatality was recorded.
The five main foci are distributed between the provinces of Neuquén, Río Negro and Chubut, in the south of the country.
The most serious fire is that of the Nahuel Huapi National Park, located between Neuquén and Río Negro and where the fire, which originated at the end of last December, has destroyed more than 10,000 hectares in the Los Manzanos area and more than 600 in the El Manso sector, according to the latest figures released by the park authorities.
Adverse weather conditions, such as strong winds and high temperatures, have hindered the work of the nearly 200 brigade members who are struggling to contain the flames.
In the Lanín National Park, in Neuquén, the fire in the Magdalena Valley, which began in early January, has already affected more than 4,000 hectares and remains active despite the work of more than a hundred brigade members and volunteers.
The province of Chubut, further south of the country, is home to two other important foci. The main one is located in the town of Epuyén, where the fire has so far burned more than 3,500 hectares of vegetation, including thickets, pastures, plantations, shrubs and native forest, in addition to at least 70 homes.
In parallel, the province has registered another focus since last January 19, when the rural area of Atilio Viglione caught fire, where the flames continue to be active and more than 3,000 hectares have already burned.
The most recent fire started last Thursday in El Bolsón, a town located in Río Negro and known for being one of the most tourist destinations in Argentine Patagonia.
According to the latest report of the provincial government, about 2,800 hectares have already been burned and the death of a man of about 80 years old has been recorded.
More than 300 people work in the area to try to contain the flames, some of which do it on the ground and others by air, using three hydrant aircraft and two helicopters of the National Fire Management Service.
Both the governor of Río Negro, Alberto Weretilneck, and the governor of Chubut, Ignacio Torres, reported that the fires in their provinces were caused intentionally.
In addition, together with the governors of adjacent provinces, including that of Neuquén, they prepared a joint document in which they expressed the “support and commitment in the fight against fires that affect the mountain range area.”
“Today, more than ever, we are working together to fight fires and protect our communities,” they said in the statement.
Ecuador’s Armed Forces carried out an operation on Monday — including airstrikes — against illegal mining in the town of Buenos Aires, in the country’s north, Defense Minister Gian Carlo Loffredo reported.
The mountainous, gold-rich area has been a hotspot for illegal mining since 2017, located in the Andean province of Imbabura.
In 2019, former president Lenín Moreno deployed around 2,400 soldiers to the region in an attempt to curb the illegal activity. “The operation began with mortar fire, followed by gunfire and bombing runs by Supertucano aircraft,” Loffredo said in a video released by the Defense Ministry.
He added that the operation would continue on Tuesday with patrols across the area to locate possible members of “irregular armed groups that may have crossed from the Colombian border.”
The Armed Forces stated on X that the intervention focused on the “complete elimination of multiple illegal mining tunnels” in the areas known as Mina Nueva and Mina Vieja.
The operation coincided with the deployment of a military and police convoy into Imbabura, which has been the epicenter of protests against President Daniel Noboa since September 22, following his decision to scrap the diesel subsidy.
Venezuela has announced the closure of its embassy in Norway, just days after opposition leader María Corina Machado was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. The Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the Venezuelan diplomatic mission provided no explanation for its decision on Monday.
“It is regrettable,” a ministry spokesperson said. “Despite our differences on several issues, Norway wishes to keep the dialogue with Venezuela open and will continue to work in that direction.” The ministry also emphasized that the Nobel Committee operates entirely independently from the Norwegian government.
In its announcement, the Nobel Committee stated that Machado met the criteria established by Alfred Nobel, “embodying the hope for a different future, where the fundamental rights of Venezuelans are heard.”
Thousands of military personnel and civilians in Mexico worked tirelessly on Tuesday to clear roads blocked by the torrential rains of recent days, which have left more than 300 communities cut off across central and eastern regions of the country. Authorities also launched mass fumigation efforts in several affected areas to prevent the spread of dengue fever.
The official death toll remains at 64, though dozens of people are still missing. President Claudia Sheinbaumacknowledged that the government does not yet know the full situation in many of the isolated villages, which range in population from 500 to 1,000 inhabitants.
“The reopening of roads is one of the greatest urgencies,” Sheinbaum said. “It’s essential to guarantee air bridges, food supplies, clean water, and a proper census of the isolated communities so we can determine the condition of every person living there.”
Private construction companies are also assisting the effort with heavy machinery and technical support to help reopen highways and reconnect rural areas.
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