BUENOS AIRES, Feb 12, (V7N) – Wildfires have ravaged up to 250,000 hectares of land in northeast Argentina since January, with firefighters continuing to battle the blazes, especially in the southern region of Patagonia.

In the northeastern province of Corrientes, the fires have destroyed an area the size of Vancouver Island, affecting farmland and pine forests. The Association of Rural Communities of Corrientes provided the devastating figures.

Tragically, a 30-year-old teacher died on February 4 from burns suffered while attempting to protect her father's field in the village of Mariano I. Loza. The region has been suffering from severe drought and heat, with temperatures recently reaching 40°C.

Greenpeace has also raised concerns about illegal logging contributing to the spread of fires. Meanwhile, Patagonia, renowned for its stunning Andean peaks and expansive grasslands, is experiencing its worst wildfire season in three decades, according to Greenpeace Argentina.

The largest current wildfire is burning in Lanin National Park, located 40 kilometers northeast of San Martin de los Andes. Further south, another fire continues to ravage the tourist town of El Bolson, famous for its fruit orchards. An 80-year-old man died in early February from smoke inhalation as over 120 homes have been destroyed and 1,000 families evacuated.

Alejandro Namor, the fire chief of El Bolson, expressed exhaustion as they continue to fight the flames. While residential areas are reportedly no longer at risk, it may take until March or April to fully extinguish the fires in the surrounding wooded areas.

In response to the escalating crisis, Argentina’s security and defense ministers, Patricia Bullrich and Luis Petri, announced the establishment of a Federal Emergency Agency during their visit to the affected area.

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