Wildfire devours 3,500 hectares of national park in Argentina, kills 11 in LA

New Delhi: The wildfire in Argentina’s Nahuel Huapi National Park has so far destroyed over 3,500 hectares, local authorities reported.

Following several reconnaissance flights, the fire’s perimeter was updated with greater accuracy, estimating an affected area of 3,527 hectares, the park’s administration said.

The area was shrouded in smoke Friday morning, which spread across nearby valleys and prevented aerial operations to combat the blaze.

Access from Los Rapidos to the Circuito Cascada los Alerces area would remain conditionally restricted over the weekend, allowing only authorised vehicles from official institutions and local residents, it added.

Till December 27, 2024, the wildfire had destroyed around 1,450 hectares of the iconic national park, according to Xinhua news agency.

The fire broke out on December 25, 2024, in the southern part of the park and has advanced towards the northern head of Lake Martin, reaching an area already devastated by wildfires in 2022.

For safety reasons, trails in the southern and central parts of the protected area have been closed, the park administration had said.

The report said that 46 firefighters were deployed to reinforce firefighting efforts in the rear section of the fire and improve escape routes to ensure the safety of the crew and that poor visibility as a result of wildfire smoke has rendered aerial operations impossible.

According to local authorities, smoke from the wildfire “is already affecting the city of Bariloche,” one of Argentina’s top tourist destinations, known for its ski slopes in winter and lakes and mountains in summer.

Established in 1934, Nahuel Huapi National Park spans 710,000 hectares across the southern provinces of Neuquen and Rio Negro. It is Argentina’s first national park and protects Andean ecosystems in northern Patagonia, water basins, wildlife and a diverse cultural heritage.

Meanwhile, a Los Angeles report said that at least 11 people have lost their lives, with fears that the death toll could climb as rescue efforts intensify following devastating wildfires in Los Angeles.

The fires, which erupted on Tuesday, have left communities reeling as they witness the extensive destruction caused by the raging blazes.

Firefighters continue to battle the flames amid challenging conditions, though the strong winds that fueled the infernos earlier in the week have now subsided.

The disaster has already engulfed over 12,000 homes and structures across a densely populated 25-mile (40 km) area north of downtown Los Angeles.

Nearly 150,000 residents remain under evacuation orders as the fires have scorched approximately 56 square miles (145 square kilometres) of land. With the region experiencing more than eight months without rain, the scale of the damage has been immense. Fire crews are beginning to make progress in containing the blazes as conditions improve slightly.