As per reports, Colombia has officially declared a state of emergency in the regions of Santander and Cundinamarca due to the escalation of forest fires, exacerbated by record temperatures associated with the El Niño weather phenomenon.

• Despite efforts to extinguish hundreds of fires, 25 continue to burn, with approximately 600 hectares of forest consumed in the capital region of Bogota alone.
• The declaration of a state of emergency aims to facilitate swift financial support to address the adverse impact on natural resources in the affected departments.
• More than half of the country’s municipalities are on red alert, particularly in areas around the capital, where smoke-choked streets and record temperatures up to 40.4 degree Celsius have prompted emergency measures.