Colombia is facing a complex natural disaster crisis following the magnitude 7.4 earthquake that struck on August 10. Wildfires spreading across different parts of the country are complicating rescue and recovery efforts after the earthquake.
The Institute of Hydrology, Meteorology and Environmental Studies announced that red alerts had been issued in 344 municipalities because of the fire threat. The figure rose by 93 percent in a single day amid intense heat and drought conditions.
Fires concentrated in six regions
The National Unit for Disaster Risk Management said active fires were concentrated mainly in the regions of Tolima, Cesar, Norte de Santander, Antioquia, Nariño and Santander.
Firefighters, military units, emergency personnel and air support have been deployed to combat the flames. The fires have destroyed more than 11,000 hectares of vegetation, farmland and homes in different municipalities.
Teams strained after earthquake
The fires have increased the workload of emergency response teams that were already operating at full capacity after the earthquake. The National Unit for Disaster Risk Management said 288 people were killed and 4,018 were injured in the earthquake.
The earthquake destroyed 12,504 homes and damaged more than 80,000 other structures. Firefighters from several regions, including Risaralda, which was affected by the earthquake, were sent to extinguish the fires.
Authorities said the teams fighting the fires were facing staff shortages.
Volcanic activity also under observation
Disaster management agencies are also monitoring increased activity at Puracé Volcano in the southern region of Cauca. The country is therefore trying to manage several natural disaster threats at the same time: wildfires, post-earthquake destruction and possible volcanic activity.
Heat and drought risks may continue
Environmental forecasts indicate that fire conditions may not ease in the short term. The institute's projections put the likelihood that the El Niño event will continue into early 2027 at 90 percent.
Intense temperature anomalies are expected to peak toward the end of the year, suggesting that pressure on firefighting and disaster response operations may persist.
