Political and environmental organizations marched to Argentina's Ministry of Security on Friday (January 30) to demand the government take better measures in the face of the fire emergency. Patagonia forest fires have destroyed an area more than twice the size of Buenos Aires, stirring criticism over austerity measures under President Javier Milei that have significantly cut aid resources.

President Javier Milei's administration had officially announced the measure for four Patagonian provinces on Friday. Opposition lawmaker Lucia Campora criticized the measure, stating it provides no economic relief for 3,000 evacuated residents and noted the fire management budget was underexecuted last year and faces a 78 percent reduction for next year.

Laura Bastia of the University Network for Climate Crisis said the decree came too late after the government systematically defunded fire prevention mechanisms.

According to the European Union's Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service, fires in Chubut province reached unprecedented levels in January 2026, burning at least 45,000 hectares including areas of Los Alerces National Park, with emissions data showing the most intense fire activity in two decades.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA (JANUARY 30, 2026) (REUTERS - Access all)

1. PROTESTERS HEADING TO THE FIRE MANAGEMENT OFFICE CARRYING A BANNER READING (Spanish): “PATAGONIA IN FLAMES. FIRE EMERGENCY”

2. PROTESTERS HOLDING SIGNS WITH SLOGANS AGAINST JAVIER MILEI

3. VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS MARCHING

4. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) HEAD OF THE UNIVERSITY NETWORK FOR CLIMATE CRISIS, LAURA BASTIA, SAYING:

"Although the National Government recently issued a decree, we believe this comes very late. Since this National Government took office, it has been defunding all the mechanisms to deal with this. We know that this type of fire can occur at this time of year. We have many scientific systems, technological systems that can help us predict these phenomena, and the truth is that the National Government has been constantly implementing defunding policies against this sector."

5. PROTESTERS MARCHING ESCORTED BY POLICE

6. SIGN READING (Spanish): “MILEI SINGS, THE PATAGONIA BURNS”

7. VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS HOLDING SIGNS IN DEFENSE OF ARGENTINE PATAGONIA

8. NATIONAL DEPUTY OF UNION POR LA PATRIA, LUCIA CAMPORA, DURING THE MOBILIZATION

9. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) NATIONAL DEPUTY OF UNION POR LA PATRIA, LUCIA CAMPORA, SAYING:

"At the same time, the budget for fire management was underexecuted during last year and for next year it has a reduction of almost 78%. The emergency declared by the President does not provide, for example, economic relief measures for affected families, for merchants in the area. There are no subsidies, no exemptions, no support for families that are evacuated today. There are 3,000 evacuated people and none of the announced measures includes any type of solution."

10. PROTESTERS CHANTING NEAR THE MINISTRY OF SECURITY

11. VARIOUS OF RIOT POLICE PREVENTING PROTESTERS FROM REACHING THE MINISTRY OF SECURITY

INTERNET (JANUARY 29, 2026) (SOCIAL MEDIA WEBSITE - Access all) (MUTE)

12. CHIEF OF CABINET OF MINISTERS, MANUEL ADORNI’S POST ON SOCIAL MEDIA X, READING (Spanish): "The decree of necessity and urgency declaring the fire emergency in the provinces of Chubut, Rio negro, Neuquen and La pampa is being signed. End."

INTERNET (JANUARY 30, 2026) (ARGENTINE GOVERNMENT HANDOUT - Access all) (MUTE)

13. VARIOUS OF THE DECREE OF NECESSITY AND URGENCY DECLARING THE FIRE EMERGENCY