In the last months the Colombia is faced with a wave of large forests fires due to the increased temperature and her drought due to the El Niño phenomenon (El Niño).

The president of Colombia Gustavo Petro had warned from the January 10 that the country is “on red alert” for “possibly the hottest year in human history.”

According to official data, from November 3 to January 20, at least 237 fires were recorded in the country, which have destroyed 35,230 hectares of vegetation.

The Institute of Hydrology, Meteorology and Environmental Studies (IDEAM) has put 883 of Colombia’s 1,101 communities on fire alert, more than half of them on red alert.

“Temperature monitoring data (…) show record levels. Climate change is a reality in our country. We must act NOW,” warned Gislian Eseveri, director of IDEAM in X.

Fighting the flames around the capital Bogota

At least four forest fires raged yesterday Tuesday in various regions of Colombia and the capital Bogota at a time when record temperatures are being recorded in the country due to the El Niño phenomenon, according to the authorities.

In capital city the mountain range located in the eastern part of the city has been burning since Monday morning. “The winds (…) caused the fire to spread over a larger area, about 120 hectares,” said Carlos Fernando Galan, mayor of Bogotá, late last night.

The environment ministry warned of “significant deterioration” in air quality in the city of around 8 million people.

More than 270 firefighters, soldiers and rescue workers are involved in efforts to bring the blaze under control with the help of two helicopters, an aircraft and thermal drones.

Nine regions in northern, central and eastern Colombia recorded record temperatures yesterday that reached 40 degrees Celsius, according to the institute.

For its part, the Civil Protection of the country (UNGRD) counted “six fires throughout the country, of which three are active”, one in Bogotá and two in the apartment Vicsadaon the border with Venezuela.

Fourth fire rages at Paramo de Santurbanan ecosystem vital to the water cycle in the Santander department, announced the Ministry of the Environment in X.