Fire threatening Colombian tourist gem mostly under control: minister

Colombian firefighters on Monday managed to control most of a wildfire that was threatening one of the South American nation's tourist gems, the colonial town of Villa de Leyva, a minister said.

Villa de Leyva, located about three hours north of Bogota, draws almost a million visitors a year for its colonial architecture and cobblestone streets.

Helicopters were deployed to combat a line of fire that began on Saturday in a forest and ripped across a hill towards the town, forcing the evacuation of two hotels on the slopes.

"The Fire Department is estimating 75 percent control of the fire," Interior Minister Rodrigo Lara wrote on X, adding that "a few hotspots remain, but they are being fought."

The flames charred almost 340 hectares (840 acres) of land, according to regional authorities.

"Yesterday we were able to contain all the hotspots throughout the night...near the houses," regional governor Carlos Amaya earlier told Caracol Radio.

Seventy-six people had been evacuated because of the fire, his office said Monday.

Colombia, which is suffering drier-than-usual conditions due to the El Nino weather phenomenon, is currently battling 17 active wildfires, according to the National Unit for Disaster Risk Management.

El Nino raises surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean and brings warmer temperatures that result in more droughts and flooding.

Thirteen wildfires are also burning in neighboring Ecuador, mostly to the north.