Forest fires in Córdoba worsen, prompting evacuation of residents

Forest fires which have been ravaging the province of Córdoba for weeks  worsened on Friday as two large outbreaks forced the pre-emptive evacuation of rural residents.

Provincial authorities said more than 200 firefighters had been deployed, with the support of water carrier planes to extinguish the main focal point located in the vicinity of Capilla del Monte, 100 kilometres north of the region’s capital city.

Authorities are keeping an alert state of “extreme” risk of fire across the whole province.

Strong winds and the extreme dryness of the soil are complicating firefighting tasks, said the provincial government in a press release, which did not detail the scale of the fire.

At least 50 people have self-evacuated, said officials. 

The municipality of Capilla del Monte town hall has asked for 300 more people to be evacuated, given the intensity of the wind.

At least two homes have been affected by the fire, according to the official report, without there being any wounded people.

The province’s civil defence team, working with the Health Ministry of Córdoba, has transferred a mobile hospital to the area to assist with innjuries and provide support for firefighters, policemen and brigade members fighting the flames.

The other focal point of the outbreak, of lower intensity, is near Chacaní, 250 kilometres west of the provincial capital.

– TIMES/AFP