A massive forest fire is raging uncontrolled in southern Chile, forcing the closure of a famed national park after consuming thousands of hectares of the Patagonian steppe.
Winds of up to 90km/h were expected to fan the flames on Friday and worsen the situation at the Torres del Paine National Park, where 5700 hectares of land have been ravaged by the flames.
"We are faced with a hugely complex situation, an extreme scenario, mainly due to topography, strong winds and highly combustible vegetation," said Vicente Nunez, head of Chile's Office of National Emergency.
Neighbouring Argentina was helping to try to bring the blaze under control and the Chilean government had deployed hundreds of soldiers, four planes and a helicopter to the remote, mountainous region.
The inferno erupted late on Tuesday and advanced rapidly in dry conditions, forcing authorities to close the park, which is located some 3000km south of Santiago, close to the border with Argentina.
