Santa Olga facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Santa Olga
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Town
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| Country | Chile | |
| Region | Maule | |
| Province | Talca | |
| Population
(2017)
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| • Total | 5,000 (before fire) | |
| Time zone | UTC-4 (CLT) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-3 (CLST) | |
| Area code(s) | +56 75 | |
Santa Olga was a small town located in the Maule Region of central Chile. It was part of the Talca Province. Before a major fire, about 5,000 people lived there.
History of Santa Olga
Santa Olga started as a settlement in the 1960s. At first, people built their homes without official permission.
In April 2016, a good thing happened: 60 families officially became the owners of their homes. This meant their houses were now legal.
The 2017 Wildfire Disaster
On January 27, 2017, Santa Olga faced a terrible disaster. A huge wildfire swept through, destroying the entire town. It was the worst wildfire Chile had seen in modern times.
More than 1,000 homes were burned down by the fire. Many people lost everything they owned.
Countries around the world offered help. Russia sent a special Supertanker Aircraft that could carry tons of water to fight the flames. The United States and Canada also offered their support.
Sadly, ten people died in the fire. This included five firefighters who were bravely trying to stop the blaze, two police officers, and three residents of the town. About 5,000 residents had to leave their homes, but thankfully, they were not hurt.
See also
In Spanish: Santa Olga (Maule) para niños
