Climate change significantly intensified the deadly wildfires that swept through Chile and Argentina in January, killing 23 people and devastating forests in Patagonia, scientists say, The Guardian reported.

Axar.az reported that researchers from the World Weather Attribution (WWA) consortium found that the hot, dry and windy conditions fueling the fires were made about three times more likely due to global heating.

Human-driven climate change has reduced early summer rainfall by 25% in Chile and 20% in affected parts of Patagonia, creating drier landscapes prone to fire.

In Chile, fires destroyed more than 1,000 homes, forced 52,000 people to evacuate, and left regions in a state of catastrophe. In Argentina, flames damaged the Unesco-listed Los Alerces national park, home to ancient alerce trees that can live over 3,000 years.

Scientists warned that continued fossil fuel use will further increase extreme fire conditions. In Argentina, experts suggested that budget cuts to fire management services worsened the damage, while in Chile, highly flammable non-native tree plantations near settlements amplified fire risks.