Colombia wildfires suspected to be arson, fueled by El Niño

Colombian authorities are warning that some of the nation's wildfires, which have ravaged over 20,000 hectares of vegetation, are being deliberately caused, a situation worsened by the drought conditions associated with the El Niño phenomenon. The Ministry of Environment highlighted that while climate conditions contribute to fire spread, intentional acts of arson are also a significant concern.

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An imprudence can start a fire and a criminal structure can provoke it deliberately. These are different phenomena and all must be faced.

Minister of Environment Fabio Arjona emphasized that "an imprudence can start a fire and a criminal structure can provoke it deliberately." He noted that intentionally starting a forest fire or using fire to create chaos carries criminal consequences under Colombian environmental law. This distinction is crucial as officials try to combat both accidental and intentional blazes.

In Tolima, one of the most affected departments, local officials have reported "critical" situations with new fires erupting while emergency services battle existing ones. The mayor of Coello, Santiago Herrera, stated they have "evidence that hands may be trying to generate these fires," pointing to fires re-igniting in areas already extinguished and with "different combustible material." This has led regional authorities to declare a state of public calamity in Tolima.

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We do not have clarity on who is carrying out these burns, but we have evidence that there may be hands trying to generate these fires.

The El Niño phenomenon is exacerbating the crisis by reducing rainfall and increasing temperatures, making vegetation drier and more susceptible to ignition and rapid spread. This climatic factor, combined with suspected arson, creates a dangerous environment for Colombia's forests, pastures, and crops, significantly impacting the agricultural sector.

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criminal hands