Media Tip Sheet: Chile's Deadly Wildfires


February 8, 2024

WASHINGTON (February 8, 2024)—Chile is experiencing what may the most deadly wildfires to date. The country has been adapting its infrastructure from the threats of tsunamis, but is now being surrounded by flames.

For more context on the matter, please consider Camille Gaskin Reyes, Professorial Lecturer at the Elliott School of International Affairs at the George Washington University. Professor Gaskin Reyes is an expert in environmental management and climate change, development studies, water and natural resource conflicts and sustainable development, urban and regional planning, as well as Latin America and the Caribbean.

Professor Gaskin Reyes said, “ We have at hand specific geographical, climate change related, policy, regulatory and natural hazard/ risk management factors that have conspired to produce this disaster. It’s quite a paradox that in this era of climate change humans, settlements, crops and natural, economic and cultural assets are as likely to be endangered and placed at risk by Fire as by Water, the latter of course a due to increasing storm surges in coastal areas, mega hurricanes, rainstorms, floods, landslides and rising sea levels engulfing vulnerable island communities around the world.”

If you wish to speak with Professor Camille Gaskin Reyes, please contact Media Relations Specialist Shannon Mitchell at [email protected].

 

 

-GW-