Forest Fire Threatens Tourist Town in Colombia

A forest fire has broken out near the popular tourist town of Villa de Leyva in central Colombia, threatening the historic Andean community.

The blaze began on Saturday in a nearby forest and had affected about 200 hectares (494 acres) by Sunday, according to local officials.

Around 250 firefighters and residents were battling the flames, while helicopters dropped water on areas where the fire was consuming eucalyptus trees. Firefighters from Bogotá and military helicopters also joined the operation.

Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella said the government would deploy all available resources to contain the fire and protect residents, the town’s heritage and the surrounding environment.

The country’s Disaster Risk Management agency said the fire was about 50 percent under control as of Sunday afternoon.

Villa de Leyva is known for its colonial architecture and cobblestone streets and attracts more than one million tourists annually.

Officials said dry-season conditions in the Andean region have been worsened by the current El Niño weather pattern, which is bringing drought and unusually high temperatures. Colombia currently has about 18 active forest fires, according to official data.

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