Ombudsman's Office requests more support to control fires in central Colombia

The Ombudsman's Office of Colombia has called on national authorities to bolster support for efforts to contain ongoing fires in the central department of Tolima. The plea comes as flames have already ravaged over 20,000 hectares, posing a significant risk to communities, homes, ecosystems, and livelihoods.

"The emergency from the fires that remain active in Tolima continues to put communities, homes, ecosystems, and livelihoods at risk. Therefore, we request reinforced support from the national level to contain the flames and prevent their impacts from continuing to spread," the entity stated in a release. Fires are active in multiple municipalities within Tolima, including Suárez, San Luis, Armero, Coello, and Guamo. Emergencies are also reported in Nariño and Caldas departments.

The Ombudsman's Office specifically requested that the national government and the National Unit for Disaster Risk Management (UNGRD) maintain and strengthen support for Tolima, establish a national response plan, and implement fire prevention measures. The entity also urged citizens to follow environmental authorities' recommendations and help prevent uncontrolled burning practices that can ignite new conflagrations. The situation is expected to worsen due to droughts associated with the El Niño phenomenon in the region.