Colombia: Forest fires in Tolima leave more than 50 homes destroyed and thousands of hectares affected

Published at: 21/08/2026 02:42 PM

A serious wave of forest fires hits the department of Tolima, in central-western Colombia, leaving a preliminary balance of more than 50 homes affected and nearly 20,000 hectares hit by flames across 14 municipalities. The magnitude of the conflagrations keeps local authorities and relief agencies on high alert.

As reported by Telesur, the governor of the entity, Adriana Matiz, confirmed the presence of 22 active foci in the departmental territory. Faced with the speed with which the fire is progressing, members of the National Police extended a call for help and called for institutional and community unity to contain the catastrophe that devastates agricultural and residential sectors.

For his part, the Minister of the Interior, Rodrigo Lara, reported that an initial contingent of 90 firefighters had been sent to reinforce containment efforts. The senior official specified that the National Fire Department heads the operational coordination of control maneuvers, with the objective of stopping the advance of the flames to new urban centers.

Mazo News Team