Colombia to seek international aid to help fight forest fires

BOGOTA, Colombia

Colombia’s president said on Wednesday that they will request international aid to help fight ongoing and uncontrollable forest fires in various regions of the country.

Stating that air forces are using all their equipment to extinguish fires in many parts of the country, Gustavo Petro said high temperatures are expected to continue throughout all of February and part of March.

"So I have given instructions to activate international aid protocols," he said on social media.

Environment and Sustainable Development Minister Maria Susana Muhamad also said in a statement that above-normal temperatures due to the El Nino effect have made it difficult to combat the forest fires.

Muhamad said that forest fires are continuing in 883 towns across the country, especially in the capital Bogota, and announced that they have declared a red alert in 582 towns.

*Writing by Alperen Aktas​​​​​​​