Buenos Aires, January 30, 2026 – The Europe Today: Argentina has declared a state of emergency across several Patagonian provinces as massive wildfires continue to scorch forests during the Southern Hemisphere summer, causing widespread environmental damage and straining firefighting resources.
The most severe fires are concentrated in Chubut province, where at least 45,000 hectares of forest have been destroyed since mid-January—an area estimated to be about 60 percent the size of Singapore. Hundreds of firefighters are battling the blazes in an effort to contain them and prevent their spread to nearby communities, according to media reports.
Government spokesperson Manuel Adorni said the emergency declaration will take effect on January 30 and will apply to the Patagonian provinces of Chubut, Río Negro, Neuquén, and La Pampa. He said the measure is aimed at accelerating coordination between provincial and national firefighting teams and improving access to equipment, personnel, and other critical resources.
Among the areas hardest hit is Los Alerces National Park, a UNESCO-listed site renowned for its ancient forests and glacial lakes, officials said.
Authorities noted that cooler temperatures and light rainfall in recent days have provided limited relief. Ignacio Cabello, deputy director of Argentina’s federal emergencies agency, said the shift in weather has slightly eased conditions for firefighters, but warned that the overall situation remains critical.
Officials said they are continuing to closely monitor the fires as containment efforts intensify across the affected regions.
