Worrying record of forest fires: UNGRD warns of emergency in Colombia

As of Friday, August 21, 2026, at 10:30 a.m., Colombia continues to face a severe wildfire crisis with 21 active emergency situations under monitoring. Of these, 12 remain active while 10 have been controlled. The situation spans five departments, with Tolima being the most affected, hosting 11 of the active fires. Another fire is currently burning in Cundinamarca. These figures come from preliminary data collected by the National Emergency Response Center, which continues to monitor developments closely. In Tolima, wildfires are concentrated across multiple municipalities and sectors. One fire is burning near the Cerro Las Mercedes area in Suárez, while another is active in the Bomberos Garagoa sector of Carmen de Apicalá. Additional fires are reported in San Luis near the National Police Training School (Cenop), in Alvarado's Mesa de Yeguas sector, and in Armero’s Maracaibo neighborhood. Villahermosa has a fire along the road connecting it to Líbano. Other active fires are located in Rovira’s La Reforma corregimiento, San Sebastián de Mariquita’s La María vereda, and Chaparral, where two separate fires are burning, one in Tamirco and another in La Unión. The final active fire in Tolima is recorded in Coyaima’s Meche San Cayetano vereda. Cundinamarca reports one active fire in Lenguazaque, specifically in the Chirvaneque vereda. Meanwhile, other fires previously reported in the region have been extinguished. In Cundinamarca, five fires were controlled in different areas, including three in Girardot affecting the Altos de Chicalá, Barzaloza, and Esperanza Norte neighborhoods. Fires were also controlled in Jerusalén’s Altillos, Santa Ana, and La Victoria veredas, and in Tocaima’s Cerro de Guacaná vereda. An additional fire was controlled in Policarpa, Nariño, in the El Ejido corregimiento, and another in Sitionuevo, Magdalena, near the Parque Isla Salamanca. In Valle del Cauca, a fire was controlled in Tuluá’s San Rafael corregimiento, specifically in the Las Veraneras vereda. As of Friday morning, five departments continue to monitor ongoing wildfires, with emergency services working to contain the active incidents. The information reflects preliminary data still under review by the National Emergency Response Center, meaning updates could occur as operations progress. Meteorologist Max Henríquez issued a forecast indicating widespread cloud cover and rainfall over western regions of the country. This comes amid critical conditions in Tolima, where several fires remain active and thousands of hectares have been impacted. According to the National Unit for Disaster Risk Management (UNGRD), as of early Saturday, August 22, there were 13 active wildfires across three departments, with Tolima accounting for 11 of them, followed by Cundinamarca and Norte de Santander each reporting one active fire. Additionally, 10 fires had already been controlled, with authorities maintaining surveillance over three departments. Henríquez noted that precipitation has reached various parts of the country, including Chocó and Buenaventura, as well as western Antioquia, Urabá, Córdoba, and Sucre. He emphasized that intermittent rainfalls are occurring across much of the Andean region. This change is particularly relevant given recent days marked by high temperatures and minimal rainfall, conditions conducive to fire spread. While the arrival of rains might offer relief, their effectiveness depends on whether they reach the affected areas and their intensity. The UNGRD highlighted that the presence of rain does not guarantee immediate control of wildfires. For rain to help, it must directly reach the affected zones with sufficient strength. Factors such as wind speed, temperature, and vegetation humidity influence how quickly fires can spread. The Institute of Hydrology, Meteorology, and Environmental Studies (IDEAM) predicted increased rainfall during the weekend due to a tropical wave passing through the region. However, some areas remain under alert for wildfires. Tolima has been the most severely affected department, with officials reporting thousands of hectares damaged by fires. Authorities in Coello, part of Tolima, have faced challenges due to difficult terrain limiting access for emergency vehicles. Local mayor Santiago Herrera requested enhanced response capabilities, including back-pack water pumps and specialized personnel, emphasizing the need for firefighters and rescue teams in hard-to-reach areas. Aerial support has also been deployed in these locations. Residents in Peñalisa, Ricaurte, Cundinamarca, have expressed concern over visible wildfires in Tolima, noting the rapid spread of flames despite efforts to control them. Testimonies indicate that the fire began as a small spot on the opposite side of the mountain and has since grown significantly. Observers described the alarming transformation of the fire, which has now become a large-scale conflagration. Wildlife has also been affected, with animals abandoning their habitats to escape the flames. The governor of Tolima has called for national assistance to combat the wildfires, highlighting the severity of the situation. Meanwhile, the UNGRD urged citizens to rely solely on official channels for updates regarding the wildfires, cautioning against the dissemination of unverified information. The situation remains dynamic, with ongoing efforts to manage the active fires and mitigate further damage.