Wildfires fueled by extreme heat have killed at least 18 people in central and southern Chile, burning thousands of hectares of forest and destroying hundreds of homes.

President Gabriel Boric declared a state of catastrophe in the Biobío and Ñuble regions, allowing greater military involvement as more than two dozen fires spread and forced about 50,000 people to evacuate.

Strong winds and temperatures above 38°C hampered firefighters, while residents said the blazes spread rapidly overnight, trapping many in their homes.

Local officials criticized delays in government response as entire communities, particularly the coastal town of Penco, were devastated, The Guardian has reported.

Most of the fatalities were reported in Penco, where residents described fleeing in darkness as homes, cars, schools, and churches burned.