Colombia declares public calamity as wildfire tears through mountains around colonial tourist town Villa de Leyva

From the Newshound archive · first published 21 September 2026.

Nearly 290 hectares of vegetation have burned around Villa de Leyva, a popular destination around 160km north-east of Bogotá, since the blaze started Saturday. Authorities suspended in-person classes and ordered preventive evacuations at nearby hotels. More than 400 firefighters and volunteers are battling the flames, with four helicopters making around 170 water drops. Dry conditions linked to El Niño are fuelling nearly 20 active fires burning across Colombia.