Above the cobblestone streets of Villa de Leyva, a colonial town that has stood as a symbol of Colombian heritage for centuries, wildfire now writes its own history across 40 hectares of hillside forest. The blaze is one of 18 burning simultaneously across Colombia, each one fed by the convergence of El Niño's ancient rhythms and the accelerating warmth of a human-altered planet. What was once a predictable dry season has become something without precedent, a reminder that even places we designate as irreplaceable are not exempt from the forces reshaping the natural world.
Massive wildfire threatens Colombia's Villa de Leyva as El Niño fuels record blazes
No direct casualties or displacement reported, but threat to 1 million annual tourists and local residents in Villa de Leyva.