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Fires that surrounded populated parts of Argentina, creating apocalyptic scenes that triggered international concern on social media, were largely brought under control Wednesday, authorities said. But the country remained under “extreme” fire danger amid dry and windy conditions.
Firefighters were battling as many as six wildfires in the Córdoba province of central Argentina, where dozens of people were evacuated, according to the Associated Press. Images and video posted to social media showed flames and black smoke approaching urban areas outside Villa Carlos Paz, a resort city west of the city of Córdoba.
As of 1:30 p.m. local time Wednesday, all of blazes were contained as cooler weather arrived from the south, according to the country’s secretary of climate risk management, catastrophes and protection.
“We do not have any active fires in the province at this time,” Secretary Claudio Vignetta said.
Even as firefighters gained control over the situation, they were still actively battling hot spots, including a fire that restarted in the Tulumba section of northern Córdoba, provincial officials reported on the social media platform X. Two planes were dropping water onto the fire, the officials said.
Evacuation orders were issued in Villa Carlos Paz, Argentina, on Oct. 10, as wildfires spread towards residential areas. (Video: The Washington Post)
Córdoba officials said that dozens of hectares had been burned, with some homes affected, but that no one was hurt.
The wildfires came amid unseasonably hot, dry and windy weather, with temperatures in the 90s and winds exceeding 35 mph in some areas. Normal high temperatures for October in Córdoba are in the 70s. Drought indicators are at “extreme” levels around the city of Córdoba, according to the Southern South America Drought Information System.
Córdoba province is among the most wildfire-prone areas in the world, Gov. Juan Schiaretti said. He urged residents to follow the direction of firefighters and civil defense officials and to take care to prevent wildfires from starting in the first place.
Córdoba officials say humans ignite 99 percent of the region’s fires. A 27-year-old man was in custody in the province’s Punilla region, accused of starting a blaze there when his campfire spread out of control, the AP reported.
“I hope that the full weight of the law falls on the person responsible,” Schiaretti said.
Meanwhile, climate conditions set the stage for an active wildfire season across South America.
The continent has experienced its hottest start to any year on record, according to a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration analysis of global conditions released in August. And drought is widespread across the continent, except in southern Argentina, eastern Brazil and northern countries, the report said.
A study released Tuesday found that climate change made a September heat wave across southern Brazil, eastern Bolivia, Paraguay and northeastern Argentina “at least 100 times” more likely. Temperatures surpassed 104 degrees Fahrenheit in parts of Brazil during late winter and early spring in the Southern Hemisphere.
Samantha Schmidt contributed to this report.