Chile's right-wing president-elect Jose Antonio Kast on Tuesday named two ex-lawyers of former dictator Augusto Pinochet to lead the ministries of defense and human rights when he takes office in March.

Authorities in Chile say that wildfires raging across central and southern areas of the country have left at least 18 people dead.

Chilean President-elect Jose Antonio Kast on Tuesday named economist Jorge Quiroz as finance minister, part of a cabinet that includes two lawyers who defended dictator Augusto Pinochet, a move that has revived tensions over human rights ahead of his inauguration.

According to Chile's CONAF forestry agency, firefighters were battling 24 active fires across the country as of the morning of Sunday, Jan. 18.