Wildfires have wreaked havoc and destruction in Central and Southern Chile, killing nearly a dozen, and obliterating thousands of homes.

Chile has had a long history of earthquakes, floods, and volcanic eruptions, but has never seen a wildfire of this size. Chilean President, Michelle Bachelet has declared Chile in an emergency state. Government efforts have been exhausted in an effort to control and put out the fires.

Eleven people have been killed in the hundreds of fires, most of which have been firefighters. The blazed began two weeks ago, and have destroyed about 250,000 acres of land. The high temperatures and drought have been a hardship on many citizens in the area.

France, Russia and the United States have sent help to Chile, since the fires have been too destructive to be controlled by an individual force.

The US embassy in Chile has sent $100,000 to the NGO Caritas Chile so that they can buy equipment to fight the fires.