One dead, hundreds evacuated as wildfires continue to burn in Patagonia

A man has died and more than 800 people evacuated from forest fires that have now torn through about 3,000 hectares of terrain near the tourist hotspot of El Bolsón in Patagonia.

Authorities from the Río Negro Province government said Sunday that “the last 23 tourists who remained in shelters of Amprale,” in the protected natural reserve of Río Azul-Lago Escondido Natural Protected Area had been evacuated.

In total, 856 people have now been evacuated from mountain shelters close to El Bolson, while 123 others had contacted a helpline and informed the authorities they were leaving the area, said the regional administration.

“We are going through another critical day,’ said Río Negro Province Governor Alberto Weretilneck in a video posted on social media.

He said “close to 3,000” hectares of land had been destroyed.

"This disaster left one fatal victim, devastated thousands of hectares and caused enormous damage to our community," said Weretilneck.

Bruno Pogliano, the mayor of picturesque Patagonia town El Bolson, told the TN news channel that the man had died after suffering cardiac arrest from inhaling wildfire smoke inside his residence.

“He died from the smoke, he suffered a cardiac arrest. He didn't want to leave his house and unfortunately he lost his life,” the mayor said.

Local press identified the victim as Ángel ‘Don’ Reyes, a beloved long-time resident of a small region known as Mallín Ahogado. Tributes were paid to him on social media by locals and friends.

The fire initially broke out Thursday in the Cajón del Azul hiking area of Amprale, some 20 kilometers (13 miles) north of El Bolsón and then spread rapidly, fanned by wind and high summer temperatures.

A state of emergency was declared Friday in Rio Negro, prohibiting open fires and establishing stronger prevention and surveillance measures through April 30.

Weretilneck alleged Sunday that the fire was “intentional” and promised to go to all lengths to “find those responsible.”

“We will not allow this to go unpunished,” he said in his video.