Criminal groups may be responsible for some of the forest fires scorching nearly 30,000 hectares (74,131 acres) in Colombia's Tolima province this month, according to Governor Adriana Matiz. Matiz stated there are "serious clues" indicating arson and has filed a complaint with the attorney general's office. She cited videos from locals depicting individuals on motorcycles setting fires and a fire department report suggesting gasoline was used in one incident.
Matiz suggested that armed groups might be using the fires as a diversion to facilitate illegal gold mining in a strategic area. President Abelardo de la Espriella has also expressed concern about deliberate fires and requested law enforcement investigate, seeking support from the United States and Chile to combat the blazes.
The Tolima region has experienced unusually high temperatures, exceeding average levels by more than 2 degrees Celsius, with rainfall 30% below normal, according to the province's environmental agency, Cortolima. This follows a pattern of forest fires occurring in other Colombian provinces, including Cundinamarca, Valle del Cauca, Narino, and Boyaca.
In Tolima, the most severely impacted area, the fires have destroyed 50 homes and nearly 8,000 hectares of farmland, though no fatalities have been reported. The economic consequences are significant, with farmers losing crops like corn and lemons, impacting their ability to feed livestock. Governor Matiz warned of an impending economic crisis for which the region is beginning to prepare.