Colombia faces a severe environmental crisis as 85% of its municipalities have entered high alert levels for forest fires, according to the latest update from the Colombian Institute of Hydrology, Meteorology, and Environmental Studies (IDEAM). This alarming situation is a result of record-high temperatures observed across various regions of the country, significantly increasing the risk of wildfires.
Ghisliane Echeverry, the director of Colombian IDEAM, reported, “Currently, 977 municipalities are under some form of alert, with 681 of these on red alert. This is the highest risk level for municipalities seen throughout the year.” The departments of Boyacá and Cundinamarca have nearly 100 municipalities at the highest alert level due to vegetation fires.
IDEAM specifies that a municipality must experience at least five consecutive days of high temperatures to enter red alert status. “Temperatures are rising, heat points are concentrating, and there are few precipitations. It is very likely that the number of municipalities on the fire risk list will continue to increase,” Echeverry explained.
In less than 24 hours, almost 100 municipalities have moved to red alert status, indicating a rapid escalation of the environmental crisis. Just a day earlier, the count was 588 municipalities, but the latest IDEAM report marks a total of 681 municipalities meeting the meteorological conditions to be at the highest level of fire risk.
The situation underscores the urgency of addressing climate change impacts and enhancing firefighting and preventive measures to protect both the environment and the communities at risk.