As El Niño tightens its grip on the Andes, Colombia finds itself at the edge of a longer reckoning with fire and drought. A blaze near Villa de Leyva — a colonial town that has long drawn travelers seeking beauty and history — has consumed nearly 290 hectares and forced the government to declare a public calamity, one of nearly 20 active fires burning across the country. The flames are not merely a crisis of this moment but a forewarning: officials say the most dangerous months still lie ahead, stretching from October through April, when water shortages and further loss of vegetation may test
Colombia declares public calamity as wildfire threatens colonial tourist town
Evacuations were carried out including at hotels near the fire; in-person classes were suspended Monday as a precaution.