A forest fire broke out on Saturday near the popular tourist town of Villa de Leyva in central Colombia, and by Sunday, it had grown significantly, affecting more than 200 hectares (494 acres) of land. Officials noted that the fire was visible from the central square of the Andean town, which is famous for its colonial architecture, cobblestone streets, and annual visitor count of over a million people. Local official José Castro told AFP that the area affected had quadrupled since the fire was first reported on Sunday morning. Over 250 firefighters and residents were working to contain the blaze on Sunday afternoon, nearly 24 hours after it began. The effort included two helicopters from the governor’s office, two military helicopters, and firefighters from the capital city of Bogotá. According to Colombia’s Disaster Risk Management agency, the fire was 50% "under control" by Sunday afternoon. Environment Minister Fabio Arjona suggested on X (formerly Twitter) that the fire might have been "deliberately set," though no official confirmation was provided. Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella acknowledged the growing crisis, stating on X that "Villa de Leyva is not alone" in facing such challenges and vowing to deploy all available state resources to combat the fire and protect the town’s people, heritage, and natural resources. Authorities in Villa de Leyva have declared a state of "public calamity" and suspended school classes for Monday. Mayor Nicolás Méndez told Caracol TV on Sunday evening that there were still "many active fire fronts" and that local resources were being overwhelmed. He called for urgent support from national authorities, saying, "We are still asking for help and no one listens to us." Hotel manager Eliana Suárez reported that her staff evacuated around 20 guests as the fire advanced toward the hotel, later reaching the roofs of some country cabins. She expressed frustration, saying, "They abandoned us when we needed it most." Forest fires are common in the Andean region during the dry season, but current conditions have worsened due to the El Niño weather pattern, which is causing drought and high temperatures. According to the latest official data, there are about 18 active forest fires across Colombia. This situation highlights the growing challenge of managing natural disasters in a region increasingly affected by climate-related factors.