Forest fires spread to seven provinces, destroying 11,000 hectares, Colombia [View all]

[Judi Lynn]

23 September، 2024

Bogota, SANA -Forest fires in Colombia have spread across seven provinces, destroying about 11,000 hectares after being fueled by drought and heat.

Colombia’s National Unit for Risk and Disaster Management said on Sunday: “About 13 active foci have been counted in the provinces of Tolima, Cauca, Cundinamarca, Huila, Valle del Cauca, Nariño and Amazonas,” explaining that the fires have so far destroyed 10,945 hectares in the country.

Authorities deployed eight airplanes to fight a fire in the village of Nagataima in Andean Tolima department, where two people were injured as a result of the blaze.

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September 23, 2024

Colombia battles fires as drought fuels Latin American flames


Colombian authorities said Sunday they were fighting forest fires across seven departments, as a scorching drought fanned blazes across Latin America. From Ecuador to Brazil, many Latin American nations are gripped by their worst drought in decades, fueling a blistering fire season that has set residents and governments on edge.

Colombia's National Unit for Risk and Disaster Management said in its latest report published on X that almost 11,000 hectares (27,000 acres) had been consumed by fires. Some of the affected departments border Ecuador, Peru, and Brazil, which are also battling flames.

Authorities deployed eight airplanes to fight a fire in the village of Nagataima in the Andean Tolima department, where two people were injured as a result of the blaze.

Meanwhile Ecuador was experiencing power outages in 12 provinces on Sunday to ration electricity as the hydroelectric power-dependent country faces its worst drought in 61 years.

More:
https://phys.org/news/2024-09-colombia-drought-fuels-latin-american.html