Devastating forest fire controlled in the mountains of Ábrego, Colombia
After three days of intense mitigation efforts, local authorities have managed to extinguish a voracious forest fire that struck the mountains of Ábrego, in the department of Norte de Santander. The disaster left a worrying toll of 3,000 hectares of vegetation consumed, severely affecting the agricultural infrastructure and water resources of the area.
The mayor of Ábrego, Huber Darío Sánchez Ortega, confirmed that the fire has been completely controlled. Currently, the risk management team is conducting a detailed census to determine the extent of material losses and provide assistance to the families affected by this environmental emergency.
Devastating impact on the economy and the ecosystem
The emergency had a destructive reach in various rural areas, including Berlín, Paramillo, La Estancia, El Chorro, Oroque, Monterredondo, and Brisas del Tarra. In addition to the natural damage, the local tourism sector suffered a severe blow, with the total destruction of the viewpoint and various outdoor recreational facilities.
- Massive loss of fundamental crops for the regional economy, such as Ocaña onion, cucumber, and beans.
- Severe damage to aqueduct networks and irrigation systems, leaving multiple properties without access to water.
- Direct threat to Cerro Negro, a strategic water point for the subregion’s supply.
Three of my colleagues were trapped in the middle of flames up to five meters high and others suffered from smoke inhalation for four hours. The most painful toll is not just the exhaustion, but seeing the devastated landscape and the environmental impact that will take years to heal.
Vanessa Ascanio Arévalo, volunteer leader of the Civil Defense.
Resilience and work of relief teams
Success in containing the fire was made possible thanks to the coordination between relief agencies, Civil Defense volunteers, and the determined participation of local farmers, who worked on creating firebreaks to prevent the flames from continuing their destructive advance toward other protected areas.
Although the flames have been extinguished, the situation in Ábrego remains complex. Authorities are now focusing on the recovery of the affected ecosystems and the rehabilitation of irrigation systems, which are the engine of subsistence for the farmers of Catatumbo who have seen their daily livelihood compromised.
