Putumayo rivers face environmental crisis amid fish deaths

The Colombian Ombudsman's Office (Defensoría del Pueblo) has issued a formal request for information and preventive measures following reports of environmental damage in the San Miguel and Putumayo rivers. Local reports and communications from the San Miguel Mayor's office have highlighted fish mortality, offensive odors, and the accumulation of organic material, raising concerns about water quality.

The request was directed to the Putumayo Governorate, the municipalities of San Miguel and Puerto Leguízamo, and the environmental authority Corpoamazonia. Authorities must respond within three days. The Ombudsman's Office has asked local governments to report on inter-institutional coordination, emergency declarations, and alternative sources for potable water, as riverside communities rely on these rivers for drinking, fishing, and food production.

Corpoamazonia has been tasked with providing technical and administrative reports, including results from water, sediment, and biological samples. The investigation aims to determine the cause of the fish deaths and whether the contamination is linked to extractive, industrial, agricultural, or livestock activities.