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Adriana Magali Matiz coordinates emergency response to extensive forest fires affecting 14 municipalities in Tolima

The department of Tolima is facing a significant environmental emergency as forest fires spread across 14 municipalities, affecting over 20,000 to 30,000 hectares of land. Governor Adriana Magali Matiz has established a command center to coordinate the response, noting that the fires are a priority and require the support of land forces and helicopters from the Air Force, Army, and Police. Significant damage has been reported in municipalities such as Coello, Suárez, Carmen de Apicalá, Armero Guayabal, El Guamo, Coyaima, Ortega, and Chaparral. In the corregimiento of Gualanday, residents expressed concern over the rapid spread of flames toward urban areas and strategic infrastructure, including oil pipelines. The Minister of Interior, Rodrigo Lara, announced that 90 firefighters from various regions were dispatched to assist, noting that difficult terrain in areas like Armero Guayabal complicates the transport of water and pumps. Investigations are currently underway to determine the causes of the fires, with authorities investigating whether they were caused by controlled burns or criminal activity in certain sectors.

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