SANTIAGO (Reuters) - Chile's capital and other regions are facing a heat wave, as meteorologists warn that extremely hot weather will become increasingly frequent in the country's austral summer. Over six million inhabitants of Chile's capital Santiago have been enduring days of hot, dry temperatures made worse by the surrounding mountains blocking fresh hair to the city. Scientists have warned that climate change and El Nino are major drivers of extreme heat. Amid the high temperatures in Santiago, many have escaped to the country's coastal areas, which are already filled with vacationers and summertime visitors from abroad. An Argentine tourist said he escaped to a Chilean coastal area to avoid the high temperatures that were also being recorded in parts of neighboring Argentina.

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Persons: Marcela Rodriguez, Andres Moncada, El, Nicolas Cortes, Sandra Maler Organizations: Reuters, Ocean, El Nino Locations: SANTIAGO, Chile's, Santiago, Argentine, Chilean, Argentina