More than 19,430 hectares of forests have been devastated by 23 fires in Colombia, reported this Monday the National Unit for Disaster Risk Management (UNGRD)who assured that “the situation is not out of control“.
According to the Unit’s figures, The flames are mainly affecting the center of the country, since of the 23 fires, nine are in the department of Tolima and six in Huila.including one in Neiva, the departmental capital.
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Five others have destroyed vegetation. Cauca and three more in Cundinamarcaof which Bogotá is the capital.
The UNGRD also assured that it has already controlled three fires in Huila, one more in Cauca, another in Boyacá and North Santander.
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“The situation is not out of control“, warned the Director of UNGRD, Carlos Carrillowho also assured that the National Risk Management System is operating and coordinating air and ground resources to extinguish the fires.
To combat the flames, caused mainly by high temperatures and the lack of rain, The authorities have assigned the dispatch of helicopters with the Bambi Bucket system and aircraft with the Guardian Caylym system of the Colombian Air Force (FAC), the Army and the Police.
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“Many of these fires will not be extinguished in a matter of days, the important thing is to ensure that the lives of citizens and their property are protected.“, Carrillo concluded, who emphasized that the actions of the authorities are focused on avoiding the loss of human lives..
For its part, the Air Force reported that, in response to the Government’s requests and in coordination with the National Personnel Recovery Center (CENRP) and UNGRD continues its support operations in extinguishing the forest fires affecting the departments of Huila and Tolima.
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“These efforts seek to mitigate the devastating effects caused by high temperatures, deforestation, loss of biodiversity and damage to wildlife in the region.“, the FAC said in a statement.
The emergencies are being attended to by the fire departments of each town, with the support of the Army, Police, Civil Defense, Red Cross and the peasant communityIn their efforts to protect their homes, residents have used various tools, such as buckets of water, to help control the flames.
EFE
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