Patagonia: Wildfires sweep across parts of southern Argentina, forcing thousands to flee
Around 3,000 hectares (30 square km) of forest in parts of southern Argentina have been burned since Monday, fuelled by drought conditions and strong winds.
Saturday 10 January 2026 16:26, UK
Wildfires have swept across a popular tourist destination in the Argentine Patagonia, destroying a large area of forest, destroying properties, and forcing at least 3,000 people to flee.
Around 3,000 hectares (30 square km) of forest in parts of southern Argentina have burned since Monday, fuelled by drought conditions and strong winds.
A vast area of the Comarca Andina, one of the top tourist destinations in the heart of the Andes Mountains, has been damaged.
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Officials in Chubut province said helicopters, amphibious planes, and air tankers have been helping workers to extinguish the flames, their efforts hampered by massive columns of smoke, which have reduced visibility for ground crews.
The province's governor, Ignacio Torres, warned on Instagram on Saturday that "the next 48 hours are vital" as he urged the entire community to remain alert.
Mr Torres, who said on Wednesday that "more than 3,000 tourists" had been moved away from the Puerto Patriada lake resort along with a few dozen locals, said "eight aircraft are operating in different sectors of the [Puerto Patriada] fire" along with "additional aircraft and support firefighters from Chile and Córdoba".
His post gave different details on the firefighting effort and the spread of the fires, saying nearly 500 people, including firefighters, rescuers, security forces, and support personnel, are fighting the blazes, which have consumed "more than 5,500 hectares (55 square km) of fields and native forest".
Their efforts in the most critical sectors include "reinforcing firebreaks, cooling hotspots, and opening and widening roads," he said.
The affected area includes the Argentine Patagonia towns of El Bolson, Lago Puelo, and El Hoyo, known for their mountains, lakes, and forests popular with walkers.
Forest fires are common during the Argentine summer, from December and March, thanks to high temperatures, strong winds, and drought.
Argentina's National Fire Management Service has issued a red alert for fire danger in eight central and southern provinces.
The first large-scale fire recorded in 2026 comes one year after the worst forest fires in decades razed tens of thousands of hectares in Patagonia, destroyed dozens of homes, and left one person dead.