PENCO, Chile—A disaster response team of experts from Humane World for Animals responded to the severe wildfires that impacted south-central Chile, particularly the Biobío and Ñuble regions, where a state of catastrophe was declared due to widespread damage and displacement.
Members of the response team conducted an initial field assessment in late January, meeting with local authorities and taking stock of animal-related needs.
“We quickly gauged the shocking damage suffered by communities once we landed in the Biobío region. We arrived a couple of days after the fires were under control. People were starting to clean their burned homes, and many injured animals were found beneath the rubble. Some animals managed to escape from the fires, but were found wandering, trying to return to homes that no longer existed. People were searching for their animals, and those who managed to save them were staying in shelters, fearful of being separated and focusing their concern on needed veterinary care and essential supplies for their animals,” said Daniela Benavides, country director for Chile.
In coordination with local municipalities of Penco and Hualpén, the Humane World for Animals rescue team conducted search-and-rescue efforts for affected animals, distributed supplies, supported families and animals staying in shelters and arranged for veterinary in highly impacted areas such as Rios de Chile, Geo Chile and Penco Chico, where residents had no way to take their animals to the hospital after losing everything, including their cars.
Felipe Márquez Muñoz, disaster response program manager for Latin America at Humane World for Animals, said: “I was left breathless when I saw the devastation in southern Chile, and with local resources overwhelmed, our priority was to ensure that the animals affected received the urgent care and protection they desperately needed.”.
The fires have led to fatalities, forced more than 50,000 people to evacuate and left more than 350 homes destroyed around Penco and Concepción. Municipal authorities, in conjunction with universities, nongovernmental organizations and volunteers, worked to set up a field veterinary hospital to treat burned and injured animals and reported more than 1,500 animals treated.
In its response, Humane World for Animals mobilized staff responders from Mexico, Costa Rica and Guatemala—experts in disaster management and response. The team focused on meeting the needs of temporary shelters, housing both humans and their animals, as well as providing veterinary care and food, ID tags, leashes and other supplies for animals in affected communities.
“The resilience shown by the people of Penco is admirable and the stories of those who evacuated with their animals are simply amazing. One of them is Cony, a local veterinary technician student who, together with her mom, managed to evacuate and escape from the fire with her nine cats and three dogs. She also told us that on her way out, she saw another cat that seemed sick and shocked. She just couldn’t keep going and turned back to get him. Cony and her family lost their house and are living with their animals in a temporary shelter. Their animals are a great support as they rebuild their lives,” said Marquez.
Humane World for Animals will continue its support of local communities and assist the municipality of Penco with additional actions in the future.
Humane World for Animals responds to disasters around the world to assist animals and communities in need. In June 2025, the team deployed to Oaxaca, Mexico, to help animals and people impacted by Hurricane Erick; in 2023 and 2024, Humane World for Animals assisted in Mexico’s central Guerrero state after Hurricanes Otis and John. Globally, the team has stepped in to help animals affected by volcanic eruptions in Guatemala; earthquakes in Nepal, Ecuador, Mexico and Türkiye; deadly storms in India, Haiti, Costa Rica, South Africa, Mozambique and the United States; wildfires in Australia and Chile; and the war in Ukraine. The organization also invests in long-term preparedness, mitigation and recovery to better equip and empower communities before disasters strike.
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