Los Alerces: Wildfire rages through national park in Argentina - BBC News

An official said arson was to blame for the blaze at the park which is a Unesco World Heritage site.

2 hours agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, ReutersImage caption, Tourists were still enjoying Futalaufquen Lake even though smoke could be seen rising from the nearby forestBy Vanessa BuschschlüterBBC NewsMore than a hundred firefighters are battling to control a forest fire in Chubut province, in southern Argentina.

The blaze broke out on Thursday at Los Alerces national park, a Unesco World Heritage site in northern Patagonia, which is home to huge alerce trees.

Chubut Governor Ignacio Torres blamed arsonists for the fire, which has burned more than 1,000 hectares.

He said that limited visibility caused by the smoke was hindering the work of aerial firefighters.

The fire spread as the region was experiencing an unusual heatwave which saw temperatures rise to 40C (104F) in the port city of San Antonio Oeste.

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