A firefighter during a fire in the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso, on the border with Bolivia, in September 2020 (photo illustration) -
Rogerio Florentino / EFE / SIPA
A large fire, still ongoing, has already devastated more than 6,500 hectares of forest in southern Argentina, local authorities announced on Tuesday.
The disaster, whose origin has not yet been determined, occurred in the region of El Bolson, a town of 18,000 inhabitants, in the province of Rio Negro.
"There are hills totally in flames, the dimension [of the fire] is very important, it is the biggest fire that we had in the region", declared to the local press an official of the Service of prevention and of prevention. forest fire control (SPLIF) in the province.
Four lightly injured firefighters
About a hundred professionals mobilized alongside volunteers and residents were mobilized.
Among them, four firefighters were slightly injured, the provincial government said.
Drought, high temperatures, high winds and the rugged terrain of the area complicate the work of the firefighters, supported by two helicopters and a water bomber plane.
For now, the most populated areas have been spared by the flames.
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