The governor of Colombia’s Tolima province, Adriana Matiz, has made a shocking revelation regarding the recent forest fires that have ravaged the region. According to Matiz, there are ‘serious clues’ that suggest the involvement of criminal groups in the fires that have burned almost 30,000 hectares of land in the country’s central region.

Clues Point to Sabotage

Matiz revealed that videos filmed by locals show men on motorcycles setting fires to some areas, while a report by a local fire department confirmed that gasoline was used to cause one of the fires. This alarming evidence has prompted the governor to file a complaint with Colombia’s attorney general.

The governor’s suspicions are not unfounded, as the region has experienced unusually high temperatures this month, with temperatures reaching more than 2 degrees Celsius above average in some areas. Additionally, the region has seen 30% lower rainfall than usual, exacerbating the situation.

Financial Consequences

The devastating impact of the forest fires extends beyond the environmental damage. According to Matiz, the fires have caused significant economic losses, with 50 homes and almost 8,000 hectares of farmland destroyed. This has left many farmers without a means of livelihood, with some losing their entire corn crop or lemon harvests.