Tolima Wildfires Scorch 11,000 Hectares in Central Colombia
Seventeen fires and more than 11,000 hectares burned in Colombia's Tolima department, while the military presses an offensive against ELN rebels in Catatumbo. The post Tolima Wildfires Scorch 11,000 Hectares in Central Colombia appeared first on The Rio Times .
The Tolima region in central Colombia has lost over 11,000 hectares of land to wildfires this month alone, surpassing the amount of land that Colombia recorded nationwide in the previous seven weeks. As of 18 August 2026, 17 wildfires were still active in the farming department, which comprises approximately 47 municipalities west of Bogota.
The risk council had declared a public calamity in the area on 14 August, and the fires continued unabated. The department's environment and risk management office reported the burned area to be over 11,000 hectares, with some reports claiming it surpassed 11,700 hectares. The issue escalated through early August; on 8 August, around 1,700 hectares had been burned in Tolima, while by 15 August, there were near 39 simultaneous fires, leading to the declaration of the public calamity.
The municipality of San Luis, in particular, reported significant damage, with the mayor claiming over 7,500 hectares were affected, although this figure was contested by the official municipal breakdown. The governor of Tolima, Adriana Magali Matiz, has been coordinating the response, deploying firefighters, soldiers, and environmental staff, backed by aircraft for firefighting efforts.
No confirmed arson cases have been linked to these fires, which authorities attribute to heat, drought, and dry vegetation. Nationwide, about 340 municipalities were under red alert for forest fires between 16 June and 6 August, with the national disaster agency recording 438 forest fires affecting roughly 7,153 hectares. The situation in Catatumbo, a rugged coca-growing region near the Venezuelan border, has been particularly intense, with the ELN guerrilla group being the primary adversary since January 2025.
Recent military operations against the ELN resulted in casualties and destruction, though civilian harm allegations have surfaced, prompting investigations. The effects of the El Nino phenomenon, which is strengthening and deepening the region's dry season, are expected to persist into October, potentially offering only brief relief.
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