Wildfires have swept across central and southern Chile, forcing nearly 20,000 people to evacuate and resulting in at least 16 deaths. Authorities declared a state of catastrophe in the hardest-hit regions of Nuble and Bio Bio, where firefighters are battling 24 separate blazes. The fires have destroyed more than 250 homes and scorched almost 33 square miles, as strong winds and record-high temperatures worsen the crisis. Much of the country remains under extreme heat alerts, with officials warning that conditions could deteriorate further in the coming days.