Starting in mid-January 2026, the Ñuble and Biobío regions of southern Chile were ravaged by severe wildfires. Driven by high temperatures, a prolonged drought, and strong winds, the flames spread rapidly. In the town of Tomé alone, the fires scorched approximately 5,000 hectares of land and destroyed at least 253 homes. More than 300 families have been directly impacted by this emergency, prompting the Chilean government to declare a state of emergency in the disaster zones.
Assessing the path to recovery
In response to the crisis, Tzu Chi volunteers in Chile immediately initiated relief planning. On the afternoon of January 30, volunteers In-Lin Yang (楊櫻玲), Hsiu-Chueh Li (李秀雀), and Chien-Su Chen (陳絹淑) departed from the capital, Santiago, for a 500-kilometer bus journey to the city of Concepción. Their mission was to conduct a preliminary assessment of the damage and identify the most urgent needs of the survivors to guide subsequent aid efforts.
The assessment team was assisted by local residents Chu-Tsai Shih (施居財) and Li-Hui Chen (陳麗惠), who provided essential transportation and local coordination. This support ensured the team could safely navigate the affected areas and reach those in need.
LEFT: Firefighters work tirelessly to save lives and contain the blaze in high-temperature conditions. RIGHT: With the assistance of Chilean Senator Enrique, Tzu Chi volunteers are able to access Punta de Parra without obstacles. | Photos: Chien-Su Chen
Voices from the ash
The volunteers visited the heavily damaged district of El Pino, where at least 100 homes had been reduced to rubble. Amidst temperatures reaching 38 degrees Celsius, the landscape was a somber scene of charred remains and burnt vehicles. The team visited survivors like Mr. Side and Ms. Torres at the sites of their former homes.
Torres recalled the terrifying moment the fire arrived at 2:30 a.m. She explained that the wind-driven flames consumed the town’s houses with a destructive force that far exceeded the community's memories of the 2010 earthquake. Volunteers spent time listening to these personal accounts, providing a supportive presence to help stabilize the emotions of those who had lost everything.
Professional support also came from Pilar, a psychologist who traveled to the disaster area daily. Even 14 days after the fire, many residents remained in deep shock after witnessing their homes burn down. Pilar worked alongside the volunteers to offer psychological counseling and emotional relief to the survivors.
LEFT: On January 31, volunteers meet at Senator Enrique's office to discuss assessment routes. RIGHT: Throughout the disaster zone, many homes have been completely leveled by the fires. | Photos: Chien-Su Chen
Rebuilding household dignity
The assessment revealed that while long-term reconstruction would take time, the immediate priority was restoring basic household functions. Many families had fled with nothing and lacked the most fundamental tools for daily life. Based on these findings, a large-scale distribution was organized for March 7.
To fund the purchase of supplies, Yang reached out to the "Chilean Women’s Association" via a social media group, inviting members to contribute whatever they could to help their neighbors. The response was overwhelming, with 17 donors contributing over 8.2 million Chilean pesos (approximately US$9,019). This collective generosity allowed the team to purchase 204 folding tables, 108 sets of five-piece cookware, and 110 gas stoves.
LEFT: At the distribution site, volunteers perform a sign language song to share warmth and comfort with the survivors. RIGHT: Local volunteer Anita (left) offers comfort and empathy to the residents. | Photos: Nelson Opazo
At the first stop in Punta de Parra, 204 families received folding tables. Volunteer Cecilia, who coordinated the event, explained the origin of the aid, noting that the resources came from the collective small contributions of many people wanting to help. Chilean City Councilor José joined the event, expressing his gratitude for the volunteers' dedication to his community.
Restoring the warmth of a home
The team then moved to El Pino to distribute gas stoves and cookware. For these families, the ability to cook a hot meal is a significant step toward reclaiming a sense of normalcy. Volunteer Matías, who has been volunteering since childhood, handed the stoves to survivors, who responded with smiles and gestures of appreciation.
"Today we are providing cooking utensils and gas stoves so that you can once again prepare hot meals for your families," Cecilia told the gathered residents.
LEFT: Residents line up in an orderly fashion at the distribution site to receive their essential supplies. RIGHT: Volunteer Matías delivers a folding table to a local resident, wishing him a smooth recovery. | Photos: Nelson Opazo
As the distribution concluded, volunteer Maico reflected on the long journey that began in the early morning hours. He noted that the true value of the supplies was the renewed hope they provided to the families as they began the difficult task of rebuilding. Though the volunteers were tired after the 500-kilometer mission, the sight of survivors returning to their land with the means to restart their lives provided a profound sense of fulfillment.
Written by Fernanda Wu (吳惠蘭), Hsiang-Hui Huang (黃湘卉)
