# Environmental crises in Tolima, Colombia > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/environmental-crises-in-tolima-colombia > Updated: 2026-10-13T20:09:48.000Z. Sources: 3. Developments: 2. The department of Tolima, Colombia, has faced a series of environmental crises. Initially, the region experienced extreme drought, with rainfall levels reaching as low as 3% of historical averages in certain municipalities. This period was marked by significant temperature increases and a reduction in water levels across most monitored streams. During this time, the municipality of Chaparral also recorded a surge in seismic activity, including a 4.5 magnitude earthquake and over 130 tremors in a single day. Following these events, the region suffered devastating forest fires that impacted approximately 70,000 hectares and caused estimated losses exceeding $150 billion COP. In response, the Colombian government and local authorities have initiated recovery and reactivation plans. These include allowing the use of ‘palma amarga’ for housing reconstruction to bypass bureaucratic barriers and implementing diagnostic strategies to characterize rural production losses and provide psychosocial support to affected families. ## Timeline ### 2026-10-13: Tolima implements recovery plans following massive forest fires Authorities in Tolima, Colombia, are launching recovery efforts following forest fires that damaged 70,000 hectares, including housing reconstruction using palma amarga and rural economic diagnostics. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/tolima-implements-recovery-plans-following-massive-forest-fires ### 2026-09-21: Tolima faces extreme drought and increased seismic activity Tolima, Colombia, is grappling with a severe environmental crisis characterized by extreme drought, rising temperatures, and frequent seismic activity driven by regional geological faults. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/tolima-faces-extreme-drought-and-increased-seismic-activity --- Cite as: Environmental crises in Tolima, Colombia. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/environmental-crises-in-tolima-colombia