Residents horrified as WILDFIRE consumes all around them in nightmarish scenes in Argentina (VIDEOS)
Evacuations are underway and firefighters have been deployed en masse after a wildfire broke out near the town of Esquel in Argentina’s Chubut province. Residents watched in despair as their homestead became a fiery hellscape.
At least 90 firefighters are working tirelessly to extinguish the flames before the outbreak can spread any further. Firefighting planes, helicopters, along with numerous fire engines and tankers have been scrambled to help battle the blaze, which is spreading rapidly across the dry grasslands in the area. An eyewitness video shows the nightmare unfolding.
Esta pasando en Esquel chubut estan evacuando 20 familias ya @Sintesis_13 pic.twitter.com/8phZHlX5uz
— yann valery (@YannValery) March 4, 2020
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Esto es Esquel ahora, familias evacuadas, personas donando agua y alimento para los bomberos y personas que perdieron sus casas, es tan triste pic.twitter.com/xaGcc4JtJN
— Belu Salles ? (@belensalles) March 4, 2020
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High temperatures in recent days rendered conditions perfect for such a bushfire to break out and the nearby highway Route 259 was closed temporarily as flames encroached on that main transport artery.
Es a metros de la Ciudad tanto que están evacuando por precaución a 20 familias del Barrio Matadero. Así se ve del centro de ESQUEL hace minutos Trabajan más de cien Brigadistas y Bomberos pic.twitter.com/cYonDE1UV2
— Ruben fernandez (@MenenFernandez) March 4, 2020
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“The forecast is unfavorable: very hot and windy, but luckily there are resources to fight the fire,” Daniel Hollman, secretary of the environment in Esquel said. Hollman added that “a tragedy was avoided” thanks to the quick-thinking of local authorities who’d recognized the danger quickly.
El voraz incendio en Esquel se ve desde todos los puntos de la ciudad. Puntualmente desde La Zeta, la imagen del fuego extendido por la montaña es impactante pic.twitter.com/NwnZyYjlrV
— Juany – Les mintieron al 48% ? (@machirulaPro) March 4, 2020
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Tremendo el incendio forestal en #Esquel #videoviral @LaCienPuntoUno @milpatagonias pic.twitter.com/a34Exd51Z4
— Luis Dancheff (@luisdancheff) March 4, 2020
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Entire communities have been evacuated as a precaution, including some 20 families from the Ceferino neighborhood, which is closest to the fire. Miraculously, though, no injuries or fatalities have yet been reported.
According to local media reports, the fire may have broken out after an electrical transformer exploded; this has yet to be confirmed by officials.
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Residents horrified as WILDFIRE consumes all around them in nightmarish scenes in Argentina (VIDEOS)