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Forest Fire Threatens Tourist Town of Villa de Leyva in Colombia
Confirmed
In Short: A forest fire was burning Sunday near the popular tourist town of Villa de Leyva in central Colombia, officials said. The blaze began Saturday in a nearby forest and had consumed about 40 hectares of native forest by Sunday.
Some 250 local firefighters and residents were battling the flames with machetes and branches, while a helicopter dropped water on the fire. The fire was visible from the central square of Villa de Leyva, known for its colonial architecture and cobblestone streets, which attract more than a million tourists each year.
Forest fires are common during the dry season in the Andean region near the equator, but conditions have been intensified by the current El Nino weather pattern, which is bringing drought and high temperatures. The fire near Villa de Leyva is part of 18 active forest fires in Colombia, according to the latest official data from the National Unit for Disaster Risk Management (UNGRD).
The flames were engulfing the San Marcos hillside above the town. Smoke from the fire was visible from the town’s central square, intensifying the crisis.
Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella pledged to mobilize all state resources to fight the fire and protect Villa de Leyva, which he called a “historical jewel” and “beautiful city that is the pride of Colombia.”
Stephanie Roe, lead climate scientist with the World Wildlife Fund, noted that El Nino can bring devastating climate extremes, but the current pattern is unfolding on a much warmer planet, increasing the likelihood of heat, drought, floods, and fires pushing communities and ecosystems beyond anything they have experienced before.
What this adds
The fire near Villa de Leyva is one of several active wildfires in Colombia, exacerbated by the El Nino weather pattern.
What's confirmed
- A forest fire was burning Sunday in central Colombia near the popular tourist town of Villa de Leyva, officials said.
- Some 250 local firefighters and residents were fighting the blaze in the afternoon, about 24 hours after it began Saturday in a nearby forest.
- Volunteers tried to slow the fire's spread with machetes and branches, while a helicopter dropped water on the flames that were consuming eucalyptus trees.
- Forest fires are common during the dry season in the Andean region near the equator, but conditions have been intensified during the current El Nino weather pattern, which is bringing drought and high temperatures.
- There are about 18 active forest fires Colombia, according to the latest official data.
- The flames were visible from the central square of the Andean town, known for its colonial architecture and cobblestone streets, that attracts more than a million tourists each year.
What's still developing
- Nothing material beyond the confirmed record.