At least 16 people have been killed and nearly 20,000 people have fled to safety after wildfires, as a "state of catastrophe" was declared in Chile.

Firefighters were battling 24 different fires across the country on Sunday morning, with the worst burning in the Nuble and Bio Bio regions, where the government declared an emergency.

The regions are around 500km (310 miles) south of the capital Santiago.

"In light of ‌the serious ongoing wildfires, I have decided to declare a state of ‌catastrophe in the regions of Nuble and Bio Bío. All resources are available," posted Chilean President Gabriel Boric on X.

Evacuation efforts saw nearly 20,000 people leaving their homes as more than 250 properties were destroyed, according to Chilean authorities.

Security minister Luis ​Cordero told reporters 15 deaths had been confirmed in Bio Bio after the government confirmed a death in Nuble on Saturday.

Almost 33 square miles are already burned, with multiple communities affected.

Strong winds and unusually high temperatures are making the situation worse, authorities say.

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Much of Chile is under extreme heat alerts, with temperatures expected to reach up to 38C (100F) from Santiago to Bío Bío on Sunday and Monday.

Since the beginning of year, both Chile and Argentina have experienced extreme temperatures and heatwaves, with devastating wildfires in Argentina's Patagonia earlier this month.