Forest fire threatens tourist town in Colombian Andes

VILLA DE LEYVA (Colombia): A forest fire was burning Sunday in central Colombia near the popular tourist town of Villa de Leyva, officials said.

The flames were visible from the central square of the Andean town, known for its colonial architecture and cobblestone streets, that attracts more than a million tourists each year.

Some 200 hectares have been affected thus far, local official Jose Castro told AFP, more than four times the area reported on Sunday morning.

Some 250 local firefighters and residents were fighting the blaze in the afternoon, about 24 hours after it began Saturday in a nearby forest.

Volunteers tried to slow the fire's spread with machetes and branches, while a helicopter dropped water on the flames that were consuming eucalyptus trees.

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Two helicopters from the governor's office and two military helicopters joined the effort, as did firefighters from Bogota.

Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella posted on X: "We will deploy all state resources to fight this fire and protect its inhabitants, its heritage, and its natural wealth."

The country's Disaster Risk Management agency said in a statement Sunday afternoon that the fire was 50 per cent "under control."

Forest fires are common during the dry season in the Andean region near the equator, but conditions have been intensified during the current El Nino weather pattern, which is bringing drought and high temperatures.

There are about 18 active forest fires in Colombia, according to the latest official data.