Although the climatological event is in its weakening stage, alerts do increase in forest fires in 730 municipalities were reactivated, the Minister of the Environment, Susana Muhamad, and the director of the Institute of Hydrology, Meteorology and Environmental Studies (Ideam) reported at a press conference, Ghisliane Echeverry.

Of the total disclosed, 293 are on red alert in the Caribbean, Andean, Pacific, Orinoco and Amazon regions, while 82 municipalities in 14 departments of the country suffer from water rationing.

Muhammad said, for his part, that one of the causes of the considerable decrease in the reservoirs that supply the country’s capital is the increase in demand for housing in the city.

From 2021 to date, he explained, one million houses have been built in Bogotá, which contributes to the city’s water deficit.

He warned that if urbanization continues without taking into account the capacity of water supply, the capital district will face an even more acute crisis in the years to come.

As an example of the situation, it was also reported that the Chuza reservoir is currently at 15.89 percent of its capacity, while Lechuza is at 14.9 percent.

The authorities also highlighted that, in the month of April, Bogotá experiences record temperatures, registering values ​​over 25 degrees Celsius.

According to Ideam forecasts, in the course of the following weeks it is expected that the rainiest season will definitely settle in the country which would have, on this occasion, a possible influence of the La Niña phenomenon.

However, a call was made for actions to be taken and measures to be reinforced to avoid water waste.

ef/ro/ifs