Narayan AmmachchiSouth America appears to be at the frontline of the climate crisis blamed on global warming. In 2024, a staggering 79 million hectares — an area dwarfing entire nations — were consumed by wildfires.
Bolivia lost over 16 million hectares, nearly 15% of its land, an expanse exceeding the size of Nicaragua. Brazil’s vastness offered no sanctuary, as 59.2 million hectares, a territory equivalent to Paraguay, turned to ash. Venezuela, second only to Bolivia in devastation, saw 9% of its sovereign land reduced to a charred wasteland.
The inferno killed hundreds of people and left thousands of homes damaged.
Wildfires are nothing new to South America, but never before had they threatened urban centers on this scale. In February last year, flames engulfed several smaller towns of Chile’s Vilapraso, reducing hundreds of houses to ash, while in Argentina, residents of Capilla del Monte and Los Cocos were to be evacuated as the inferno closed in.
The worst-hit regions include Brazil’s northern Amazon, Venezuela’s Maracaibo, and the Gran Chaco, which stretches across Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, and Paraguay.
Relentless droughts and sudden floods are upending economies. Failed crops are pushing rural families into urban slums. Reservoirs are drying up, crippling hydroelectric power supplies in Ecuador and Colombia.
Increasing Dry Days
South America is drying out at an alarming rate, according to a recent study by Communications Earth and Environment. Fifty years ago, the region experienced about 180 dry days a year. Today, that number has surged to 240 — meaning 60 more parched days annually.
Paradoxically, rising temperatures are also making storms more violent. As the air holds more moisture, the risk of destructive floods intensifies.
Last weekend, Argentina’s port city of Bahía Blanca was blindsided by a sudden deluge. Torrential rains dumped 260 millimeters (10 inches) of water in mere hours, triggering deadly flash floods that killed 16 people.
“The region is experiencing sudden and dramatic swings between extreme wet and dry conditions,” said Max Dugan-Knight, a climate scientist with Deep Sky, a Canadian startup aiming to remove gigatons of carbon from the atmosphere.
This climatic phenomenon is called “hydroclimate whiplash,” Max added.
“These swings might seem like a useful balance, but they are extremely dangerous because they cause flooding and mudslides on the one hand, and wildfires and water scarcity on the other, sometimes in quick succession.”
Hydroclimate whiplash was on full display in Bogotá last spring. Months of extreme drought gave way to a deadly flood in November, wreaking havoc on the city of 12 million people.
Max warns that this volatility is crippling the region’s agriculture. “That’s why Argentina’s wheat and soybean production has taken such a massive hit. The same goes for Brazil’s coffee industry — water shortages and relentless heat waves have severely impacted yields over the past year.”
Chile: The Worst Victim
Chile suffered the worst wildfire disaster of any country. In February 2024, the raging fires killed about 136 people and injured nearly 1,200, according to the Pan American Health Organization. In Viña del Mar alone, more than 1,600 people lost their homes as entire neighborhoods burned to the ground. Many survivors took refuge in schools, churches, and hotels.
The fires devastated over 64,326 hectares, damaging nearly 15,000 homes — around 6,600 destroyed. In response, the Chilean government declared a State of Constitutional Catastrophe until April 3, 2024.
The government estimates the damage at $4.39 billion, which doesn’t include indirect losses such as reduced productivity, environmental destruction, and long-term health effects.
“Chile is grappling with persistent drought and severe wildfire seasons,” said Abigail Wellman at TeamPlanting, an Inwood, NY-based company carrying out several reforestation projects across Latin America.
Searching for Solutions
There’s no quick fix to shield South America from worsening climate change, but the region can strengthen its defenses.
“Some of the best defenses available are natural resources like forests, wetlands, and mangroves. These provide a buffer against flooding and can reduce wildfire risk,” Max said.
“Prolonged drought can damage the region’s energy security. This means governments should diversify their energy mix, adding more renewables like solar and wind.”
Wellman urged immediate action—investing in sustainable practices and early-warning systems to better prepare for extreme weather. Encouraging rural communities to plant trees on a large scale could also help, as trees act as natural shields against drought.
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