started · updated
Villa de Leyva wildfire threatens Colombian tourist town
A major wildfire in the San Marcos hill area has threatened the colonial tourist town of Villa de Leyva in the Boyacá department of central Colombia. The blaze, which began on September 19, has consumed approximately 290 hectares of native vegetation, including dry forests and frailejones, potentially endangering the Iguaque Fauna and Flora Sanctuary.
Authorities have declared a state of public calamity. Preventive evacuations were conducted for families and guests at local hotels, including Hotel Arcoíris and Hotel El Duruelo. Local activities, such as school classes and certain tourist excursions, have been suspended. The Carrera del Amor sporting event was also canceled due to the emergency.
Emergency response efforts involve over 300 personnel, including firefighters, the Red Cross, the National Police, and the military. Aerial support includes four helicopters equipped with Bambi Buckets, having performed 170 water drops. As of the latest reports, the fire is approximately 50% controlled, though strong winds and high temperatures—exacerbated by the El Niño weather pattern—continue to pose challenges. Investigations are underway to determine if the fire was caused by human activity, such as uncontrolled burning.
Entities
Abelardo De La Espriella · Boyacá · Carlos Amaya · Cerro de San Marcos · Fabio Arjona · National Unit for Disaster Risk Management · Rodrigo Lara · San Marcos · San Marcos Hill · UNGRD · Villa de Leyva
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 18 SOURCES] The wildfire has consumed between 40 and 100 hectares of vegetation. bahamasspectator.com · haitigazette.com · stvincenttribune.com · antiguatribune.com · jamaicainquirer.com · +4 more
- [● 3 SOURCES] More than 350 emergency personnel and volunteers are participating in containment efforts.
- [● 6 SOURCES] Preliminary information from the UNGRD suggests the fire may have been intentionally set.
- [● 12 SOURCES] There are currently 18 active wildfires across Colombia. bahamasspectator.com · haitigazette.com · stvincenttribune.com · antiguatribune.com · jamaicainquirer.com · +6 more
- [● 4 SOURCES] Ten homes and several hotels, including Hotel El Duruelo, were evacuated due to flames and smoke.
- [● 7 SOURCES] Four helicopters have been deployed to perform water drops using the Bambi Bucket system. buenaventuraenlinea.com · infoenn.com · crprensa.com · www.ilpallonegonfiato.it
- [● 4 SOURCES] The fire situation has reached a point of stability after the most dangerous hotspots were eliminated. buenaventuraenlinea.com
- [● 4 SOURCES] The Carrera del Amor sporting event was canceled due to the emergency.
- [● 6 SOURCES] Minister of Environment Fabio Arjona stated that preliminary reports suggest the fire was human-caused. noticiasya.co · elmercuriomanta.ec · crprensa.com
- [● 4 SOURCES] Interior Minister Rodrigo Lara described the fire as the largest currently active in the country. bahamasspectator.com · haitigazette.com
- [● 11 SOURCES] Families and hotel establishments were preventively evacuated from the area. larazon.co · elmercuriomanta.ec · www.allgaeuer-zeitung.de · 360radio.com.co · www.canalcapital.gov.co · +1 more
- [● 3 SOURCES] The fire has consumed approximately 70 hectares of vegetation.