Parts of Chile 'turning to desert' in worst drought in 60 years

"We are talking about desertification rather than a temporary drought," says the director of Chile's resilience institute.

Image: Cows are dying in the baking heat in Chile

Chile has been hit by its worst drought in six decades, forcing officials to declare an agricultural emergency to prevent the collapse of farming.
The country's capital Santiago and its outskirts, as well as Coquimbo, Valparaiso and O'Higgins, are among the worst-hit areas.

Image: An emergency status has been declared for almost half the country

The emergency status, impacting almost half the country, will see relief measures fast-tracked for the agriculture industry, including drinking water and medicine for animals.
In some areas, water for human consumption has become scarce.
Cattle are collapsing where they stand and reducing to skeletons in the baking heat, and boats have been left abandoned in dried-out marinas.

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"We are talking about a process of desertification rather than a temporary drought or absence of rain problem. We are talking about a tendency that has come to stay," Felipe Machado, director of the country's resilience institute.

This year has been one of the driest years Chile has experienced in sixty years, according to agriculture minister Antonio Walker.
Chilean farmer Jorge Romero, speaking near Lake Aculeo, which has dried out, said: "(There are) many dead animals, all around the lagoon, everywhere. Every day animals die."

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It comes as the Amazon rainforest, considered the world's lungs because it is a vital absorber of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, is on fire further north on the continent.

Image: Boats and pontoons now sit abandoned where lakes have dried up

As well as the direct impact on farming in Chile, there is concern for the country's copper industry. It is the world's leading producer of the metal, and it is the backbone of the country's economy.
Production requires huge quantities of water, which is becoming steadily more scarce.
The country is due to host a global conference on climate change at the end of the year.