Colombia's farmers watch crops burn in El Nino-fueled wildfires

Colombia is fighting 18 wildfires across four departments as El Nino dries out the landscape and stokes the flames, the county's National Unit for Disaster Risk Management said Wednesday.

Ten fires are burning in Tolima, five in Narino, two in Cundinamarca and one in Valle del Cauca, the agency said on X.

The hardest-hit area is Tolima, where more than 20,000 hectares have been scorched in 26 days of emergency conditions.

Farmers in Tolima are watching their lemon and avocado crops go up in smoke and pleading for help before the flames reach their homes.

Local officials are also calling for more air support, and military engineers are already on the ground.

Interior Minister Rodrigo Lara said the fires intensified overnight in San Luis and Coello, with crews battling through the early hours to save homes and power towers.

On X, Lara said firefighters, civil defense teams, soldiers, police and residents are all working on the ground, adding that two suspects have been arrested after signs of criminal activity.

The wildfires broke out in early August, when El Nino kicked in.

Officials warn they could last until March 2027.