Forest fire threatens tourist town in Colombian Andes

Colombia is grappling with approximately 18 active forest fires, exacerbated by drought and soaring temperatures stemming from the El Nino weather phenomenon. In the central region, a fire raged near the renowned tourist destination of Villa de Leyva, visible from the town's central square. This picturesque Andean town, famed for its colonial architecture and cobblestone streets, draws over a million visitors annually.

As of Sunday, the blaze had incinerated around 200 hectares, nearly quadruple the area reported early Sunday. Approximately 250 local firefighters and residents were battling the inferno roughly 24 hours after it ignited in a nearby forest on Saturday. Volunteers utilized machetes and branches to impede the fire's progression, while a helicopter dispensed water to the flames consuming eucalyptus trees.

The governor's office and military collaborated, deploying two helicopters and two military helicopters, alongside firefighters from Bogota. President Abelardo de la Espriella pledged on X: "We will mobilize all state resources to combat this fire and safeguard its inhabitants, heritage, and natural riches." The Colombian Disaster Risk Management agency stated that the fire was 50% contained by the afternoon.

While forest fires are commonplace during the dry season in the Andean region, the current El Nino weather pattern has exacerbated conditions, leading to drought and elevated temperatures. Currently, there are about 18 active forest fires reported nationwide.