Half of Colombia’s states on forest fire alert, nearly 1000 fires so far in 2014: weather authorities

(Photo: Corpoguajira)

Colombia’s weather institute, IDEAM, has put 14 of Colombia’s 32 states on alert for forest fires, as the conditions worsen during the country’s current strong summer drought.

The Risk and Disaster Management Agency, UNGRD, declared that there have been 933 forest fires so far this year. Indicating close to 300 events in the last month alone. The fires pose a danger to the forests, crops and grasslands of states in northern Colombia.

MORE: Colombia braces for El Niño amid already harsh summer drought

The lack of rain has hit Colombia’s northern states of Guajira, Atlantico, and Bolivar hardest, while the Andes mountain states of Boyaca, Huila, Nariño, and Quindio also suffer.

IDEAM also reports that “special attention” should be given to the northern Sierra Nevada region as well as Salamanca Island and Valle del Cauca region, where already close to 1,500 acres have been consumed by fires, according to El Heraldo newspaper. These fires are a continuation of the devastating effects of dry months in the region.

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