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New fire in Argentine Patagonia burns homes and forces the evacuation of hundreds

New fire in Argentine Patagonia burns homes and forces the evacuation of hundreds

Dozens of brigade members were fighting a fire on Thursday near the town of Epuyén, in Argentine Patagonia, which has devoured some 1,800 hectares of forest and fifty homes and forced the evacuation of hundreds of people.

Meanwhile, an even more destructive outbreak has consumed more than 4,000 hectares of forests in the Nahuel Huapi National Park, a beautiful natural area located about 100 kilometers to the north.

The fire that broke out the day before in Epuyén, a town located in the southern province of Chubut, spread quickly due to strong gusts of wind. No fatalities were recorded.

Rodrigo Galmes, director of the Provincial Fire Management Service of Chubut, told the press that “although they have not managed to stop the fire, it was possible to limit it.”

The 50 burned homes and school are located in the La Rinconada area, where 200 families were evacuated by order of the municipality of Epuyén.

The governor of Chubut, Ignacio Torres, indicated for his part that “the situation was very critical over the course of five hours due to gusts of more than 70 kilometers.”

The provincial leader pointed out that three fire hydrant planes and a helicopter are fighting the flames alongside the brigade members working on the ground. The cause of the fire is unknown, although authorities suspect it was arson.

Meanwhile, an emergency committee that coordinates the fight against the fire that spread since the end of December in the tourist Nahuel Huapi National Park, close to the mountain border with Chile, has closed roads and restricted access to the areas where they are working. brigades, vehicles, trucks, aerial means and road machinery.

The rains of the last few hours brought partial relief to the area, where the areas of Los Manzanos and Laguna Quetro – Cerro Colorado are the most affected.

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