Tolima and Valle Battle 10 Active Wildfires as 163,546 Cattle Face Starvation

Tolima is carrying the main burden of Colombia’s wildfire emergency, with nine of the country’s 10 active forest fires burning across the department. The remaining fire affects a rural area of Valle del Cauca.

Emergency agencies and authorities from the National Disaster Risk Management System are fighting the blazes. Teams have contained four fires in recent hours, but flames remain active in nine municipalities in Tolima.

The affected areas include villages in Suárez, Armero, Venadillo, Coyaima, Lérida, Rovira, Cunday, Ambalema and Carmen de Apicalá. In Armero, fires are affecting the rural areas of Maracaibo, Netú, Playón, Los Trinchos and Santuario. Other active fronts include the Las Mercedes hill in the tourist municipality of Carmen de Apicalá.

The agricultural impact has grown after a month of reported fires and water shortages. The Tolima government estimates economic losses of nearly 50 billion pesos, with more than 27,000 hectares affected. About 8,000 hectares are believed to be agricultural land, and around 1,100 producers have been directly affected, according to regional authorities, Cortolima, the Agriculture Ministry and producer groups.

Ranchers warn that 163,546 cattle could die from hunger as the fires and shortages damage available grazing areas.