Forest fires rip through central Argentina causing evacuation orders

Forest fires ripped through Córdoba Province on Tuesday night (September 22), sparking dozens of evacuations and leaving at least two firefighters with severe burns.

In one of four separate outbreaks, flames swept through a woodland area of the town of Villa Carlos Paz, a tourist spot located around 700 kilometres north of Buenos Aires.

Fires also hit the town of San Antonio de Arredondo and are spreading towards Falda de Carmen, the local officials said on Tuesday.

Another outbreak is raging at a nature reserve in the region of Unquillo, around 30 kilometres away from Córdoba, they added.

A total of 28 people were evacuated, provincial officials said.

According to a report from the National Fire Management Service, other outbreaks are active in the islands of the Paraná Delta, one of Argentina’s most biodiverse regions, and in the provinces of San Luis and Buenos Aires.

Other fires have been contained in Mendoza, Jujuy and Tucumán provinces.