The mayor of Epuyén, José Contreras, confirmed today that a hundred homes have burned down, including those affected by wildfires in this Patagonian region since last year. He also noted that "there is no longer a mountain with natural green, only the town remains, the landscape is desolate."
In this sense, the mayor indicated that "this year 37 homes were affected." "We need to get back on our feet and the support of all Chubut residents. It has been two catastrophes in two consecutive years," he added.
The mayor said that recent rains "were a relief, but we were on edge for almost a month because of this issue. We have expectations for the long weekend," the official emphasized.
Regarding the origin of the fires, he stated that the investigation is ongoing, but "it was not possible to determine what happened." "The prosecutor said he is more advanced on the accelerants; let's hope the responsible ones are found," he said, recalling that the fire also affected other localities in the comarca like El Hoyo, El Maitén, and Cholila.
However, the fires also affect nearby provinces such as Río Negro, Neuquén, and La Pampa, while in Santa Cruz a state of emergency has been declared by the national government through the National Fire Management Service (SNMF). The decision was formalized this Monday through decree 80/2026, published in the Official Gazette.
The government justified the declaration due to the "adverse hydrometeorological conditions" affecting the region, characterized by persistent drought, electrical storms, and temperatures above the historical average.
"It would help us a lot if you come to visit, if you don't leave us alone," the statement said.
