Wildfire burns nearly 300 hectares near Colombia’s historic Villa de Leyva

Emergency crews are working around the clock to contain a wildfire that has burned nearly 300 hectares (741 acres) near Villa de Leyva, one of Colombia’s best-known historic towns, according to Colombia’s National Unit for Disaster Risk Management.

The fire began on Saturday on San Marcos Hill in the rural La Castellana area, close to Villa de Leyva’s historic center in the central department of Boyaca. Preliminary assessments indicated that at least 290 hectares of vegetation had been destroyed.

More than 400 personnel deployed

Boyaca Governor Carlos Amaya said more than 400 people had been mobilized, including municipal firefighters, civil defense volunteers and military personnel. The operation includes 14 fire departments, 10 specialized emergency vehicles and helicopters equipped for aerial firefighting.

Footage shared on social media showed flames engulfing the nearby