Recently, a severe forest fire broke out in the central Andes mountain region of Colombia, with about 200 hectares of land damaged as of the time of reporting. The intense flames are approaching the nearby popular tourist destination of Villa de Leyva. Authorities have urgently mobilized hundreds of firefighters and military helicopters to extinguish the fire, and currently have managed to control half of the blaze.
Local official Jose Castro informed Agence France-Presse on Sunday afternoon that the forest fire near Villa de Leyva started on Saturday afternoon and spread rapidly. So far, the wildfire has engulfed around 200 hectares of vegetation in the vicinity of San Marcos Hill, overlooking the historic town.
Villa de Leyva is renowned for its colonial-era architecture and cobblestone streets, attracting over a million visitors annually. During the fire, raging flames and thick smoke could be seen clearly from the town’s central square.
Approximately 250 firefighters and local residents are on-site engaged in firefighting efforts, with volunteers using machetes and branches to try to contain the spread of the fire. To prevent further escalation of the disaster, the office of the Governor of Boyaca department and the military have urgently deployed four helicopters for aerial support. Firefighters from the capital city of Bogota have also rushed to the scene to assist.
Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella stated on social media platform X, “We will mobilize all national resources to extinguish this wildfire, ensuring the protection of local residents, historical and cultural heritage, and natural resources.”
The country’s disaster risk management agency mentioned in a statement on Sunday afternoon that approximately 50% of the fire has been brought under control.