More than 13,000 hectares devastated by forest fires.
News Colombia.
The Mayor of Palermo, Kleiver Oviedo, has addressed the critical situation facing the municipality due to the recent forest fires that have destroyed more than 13,000 hectares of tropical dry forest.
In a recent statement, Oviedo underlined the magnitude of the tragedy and announced drastic measures to prevent future emergencies.
Strict measures against controlled burns
Oviedo reported that sanctions for those who carry out controlled burning will be toughened, given that these practices have been identified as one of the possible causes of the devastating fire.
“We understand that a poorly executed controlled burn can lead to a tragedy like the one we are experiencing,” said the mayor.
Authorities have contained 90% of the fire, but the damage has already been considerable.
As part of efforts to identify those responsible for the fire, the mayor announced a reward plan.
“It is a crime to start fires, especially in such critical circumstances. We will punish those responsible,” said Oviedo. This measure seeks to hold those who caused this disaster accountable and to deter future incidents.
Call for community solidarity
In his speech, Oviedo also called on the community to return equipment and tools belonging to the firefighters, which were used during the fire mitigation efforts.
“We ask the people who have helped in this process to return the items that have not been returned. That also says a lot about us,” said the mayor.
Situation in other regions
At the departmental level, progress has been made in fighting fires in other areas.
In Neiva and Campoalegre, the fires are under control, although some outbreaks persist. In Aipe, overflights will be carried out to assess the ground conditions and make operational decisions.
However, the situation in Natagaima, Tolima, is critical due to difficult access conditions and strong winds that complicate firefighting efforts.
The use of helicopters and planes equipped with advanced systems has been crucial in reducing the flames.
In Palermo, the HUEY II helicopter and the Bambi Bucket system have helped reduce the fire by a third, while in Aipe and Neiva, the C-295 aircraft with the Guardian Caylym system has carried out significant water discharges.
Authorities continue to work tirelessly to protect affected communities and extinguish the fires.
Mayor Oviedo concluded his statement by reflecting on lessons learned: “Much has been lost today, but we have also learned a lot along the way.”
The current crisis has highlighted the need for improved natural resource management and education on the proper handling of controlled burns.
The Palermo community, as well as local and national authorities, continue to work to confront this emergency and mitigate its long-term effects.
Kleiver Oviedo, mayor of Palermo, Huila, referred to the difficult situation that the municipality is experiencing due to the forest fires that are being recorded: “More than 13,000 hectares of tropical dry forest have been lost.”
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