Massive wildfires in Chile cause 51 deaths so far. More than 1,000 homes are thought to have been damaged in central Valparaíso, a tourist destination.
The Pacific coast of South America, including Chile, is experiencing continued drought and high temperatures due to the El Niño phenomenon, in which sea surface temperatures are higher than average, increasing the risk of wildfires. Chilean President Boric said, ``The fire is spreading very quickly and weather conditions make it difficult to control.''