Colombia declares calamity as wildfire spreads near Villa de Leyva
A blaze possibly set deliberately has burned nearly 300 hectares around the colonial tourist town, forcing evacuations and school closures.
What to know
- A wildfire above Villa de Leyva, one of Colombia's best-known colonial tourist towns, has grown from 40 to about 290 hectares since Saturday, prompting a declared public calamity.
- Authorities say the fire was roughly 50% controlled by Sunday evening but strong winds have complicated containment; classes were suspended and evacuations carried out.
- Colombia's environment minister says preliminary evidence suggests the fire may have been deliberately set, with investigation ongoing.
- The blaze is one of nearly 20-27 active fires burning nationwide amid a severe El Niño-driven drought, with neighboring Ecuador facing a parallel wildfire wave.
“El Nino can bring devastating climate extremes on its own, but it's unfolding today on a much warmer planet, increasing the likelihood that heat, drought, floods and fires will push communities and ecosystems beyond anything they have experienced before”
Stephanie Roe, Lead climate scientist, World Wildlife Fund · Al Jazeera ↗ · Sep 19
Abelardo de la Espriella President of ColombiaFabio Arjona Colombia's environment ministerRodrigo Lara Colombia's interior ministerCarlos Amaya Governor of BoyacáCarlos Fernando Galán Mayor of BogotáStephanie Roe Lead climate scientist, World Wildlife Fund
How it unfolded 3 developments, newest first · click a bar or a number to jump articlesposts
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Colombia declares public calamity as fire grows to 290 hectares
Authorities declared a public calamity as the fire, complicated by strong winds, expanded to roughly 290 hectares and was reported about 50% controlled. Officials suspended in-person classes, carried out preventive evacuations including at nearby hotels, and deployed more than 400 responders and four helicopters that made about 170 water drops.
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3 outlets first by Guardian, 2d ago · also AP News, The Guardian · read ↗
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Wildfire forces evacuations and burns through mountains surrounding Villa de Leyva in the north-east
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'🇨🇴 authorities declared a public calamity as a wildfire burned through mountains surrounding one of the country’s best-known colonial towns in the NE, scorching large swaths of vegetation & forcing evacuations. Nearly 20 active fires are burning across country.'
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First Dunwich Heath, then Villa de Leyva. Two wonderful places in different continents hit by wildfire. Colombia declares public calamity as wildfire threatens popular tourist area | Colombia | The Guardian
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Nationwide fire count and Ecuador's parallel wildfire wave disclosed
Colombia's disaster agency said it was monitoring 27 forest fires nationwide, 19 active and eight controlled, concentrated in Tolima and other Andean areas. Neighboring Ecuador reported 12 active fires and more than 21,800 hectares burned this year, including a blaze on the Imbabura volcano brought under control after three days.
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Environment minister says fire may have been deliberately set
Fabio Arjona, Colombia's environment minister, said preliminary information from the disaster management agency suggested the Villa de Leyva fire may have been intentionally started, though authorities were still investigating.
“Villa de Leyva is not alone…”
— Abelardo de la Espriella, President of Colombia · source -
background
Wildfire breaks out on hillside above Villa de Leyva — Flames engulfed the San Marcos hillside overlooking the colonial town, consuming about 40 hectares of native forest and sending smoke over the central square. President Abelardo de la Espriella pledged to mobilize state resources, and officials dispatched aircraft, a military helicopter and firefighters from Bogotá.