Argentina Wildfires: Evacuations Underway as Blaze Approaches City of Villa Carlos Paz
The resort city of Villa Carlos Paz in Argentina is in danger as a massive wildfire is approaching the city rapidly, triggering an evacuation. Scenes of the fire and its wall of smoke approaching Villa Carlos Paz have been widely shared on social media.
Villa Carlos Paz is found in Central Argentina and is part of Cordoba. It is supposed to be a resort city, but temperatures there have hit 91 degrees Fahrenheit (32 Celsius) and is in the middle of a drought, which has engulfed Cordoba.
According to Earth Sky, the Argentina wildfires have approached the 400 Homes Community, with locals trying to combat the approaching blaze by trying to moisten the landscape with water from swimming pools.
Drone footage of the flames showed towering black smoke outside the city, creating a deadly wall. These scenes of heat have been going on for two days now, starting October 9, which was hotter at 99 degrees Fahrenheit.
🔥 MASSIVE wildfire/forest fire in Villa Carlos Paz, west of #Córdoba, in central #Argentina....pic.twitter.com/8VYg292n0w
— Volcaholic 🌋 (@volcaholic1) October 10, 2023
🔥 Forest fires in Villa Carlos Paz near #Córdoba, Argentina. Satellite view + detected heat for October 9 and 10: pic.twitter.com/Z5H63k8Zkb
— Zoom Earth (@zoom_earth) October 10, 2023
Awful situation unfolding right now in Villa Carlos Paz, Argentina as a fast-moving wildfire is approaching the city. Multiple structures on fire. Urgent evacuations are underway. pic.twitter.com/6741nRG2ZV
— Nahel Belgherze (@WxNB_) October 10, 2023
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Officials Outline Evacuation Efforts Due to Argentina Wildfires
Officials from Villa Carlos Paz and the nearby city of San Antonio to talk about how they are handling the evacuations. Claudio Vignetta, the Secretary of Risk Management, told local news that their primary concern right now are the areas with the highest level of activities, which is between Villa Carlos Paz and San Antonio, specifically the 400 Homes area.
Air and ground assets, including three planes and a helicopter, have already been deployed to combat the flames, according to Times Now News. However, Vignetta acknowledged that battling these flames would be hard and that this wildfire is a "complicated fire."
Aside from 400 Homes, residents from the Solares neighborhood in Playa de Oro have also self-evacuated as a precaution, with officials warning that the wildfire has become even more intense due to the intense heat and high winds that are spreading the flames even further.
Argentina Man Arrested for Starting the Wildfire
Argentine authorities believe the devastating wildfire was caused by a man named Ulises Xarate, 27. The fire started last Monday in an area close to Villa Carlos Paz.
According to the Associated Press, Xarate admitted to police that he started a campfire to make coffee. However, he lost control of the flames due to the strong winds, and it soon became the massive wildfire threatening the city.
For now, weather forecasts indicate it might rain and help quell the raging flames. On Tuesday, there have been five active wildfires, with a total of 960 firefighters working to extinguish them.
Meanwhile, Cordoba Gov. Juan Schiaretti has called on residents to evacuate as the flames draw near.
"I call on the population to respect the indications of the firefighters and authorities who are working in the affected areas," he posted on social media. "The most important thing is to save lives, wherever evacuation is necessary, it will be done."
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This article is owned by Latin Post.
Written by: Rick Martin
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