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Massive fire that killed 21 people in Chile, 39-year-old arrested, accused of arson
2026-01-23 08:21:26 / BOTA
Chilean prosecutors announced Thursday evening the arrest of what they describe as the main suspect in a forest fire that caused 21 deaths in southern Chile, where firefighters have been battling the flames since Saturday.
Police have detained one person, Marcela Cartagena, prosecutor for the Biobio department, where 20 people have died, told reporters. The 21st death was recorded in the neighboring department of Nublo.
Since the beginning of the week, authorities have announced three more arrests of suspects, one of whom has been released. Authorities believe the fires were caused by deliberate arson and are prioritizing that scenario.
???????????? "The fire hotspots have reignited again..."
Recording from Penco, Chile, where wildfires have killed at least 14 and destroyed hundreds of homes.
Witnesses say Israeli "tourists" are behind the blaze, just as they were in Argentina. pic.twitter.com/t79UXQJrc9
— DD Geopolitics (@DD_Geopolitics) January 19, 2026
"It's pure malice," an intent "to cause harm, there's no other explanation," Felicia Lara, 68, a resident of Punta Para, in the department of Biobio, whose home was completely destroyed like most in the community, told AFP.
According to police, the arrested man is a 39-year-old Chilean with a criminal record for assault and causing "serious bodily harm" and violating laws related to industrial and intellectual property.
According to official government data, the ongoing fires have claimed the lives of 21 people, while the number of people affected is around 20,000. The fires hit the departments of Araucanía, Nublo and Biobio.
High summer temperatures in the southern hemisphere, combined with strong winds, favored the spread of the flames, destroying entire villages and towns.
In February 2024, multiple fires broke out simultaneously around the city of Viña del Mar, killing 138 people, according to updated figures from the prosecutor's office. Subsequent investigations concluded that they were caused by arson attacks attributed to firefighters and forest rangers.
Happening now...
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