Colombia declares emergency over El Niño phenomenon

Colombian President Gustavo Petro has signed a decree introducing a one-year emergency regime due to the El Niño climate phenomenon, Report informs referring to TASS citing the presidential administration.

The administration clarifies that the decree is valid for 12 months. This measure allows for the allocation of additional budget funds to eliminate the consequences of the disaster.

Petro said last week that Colombia intends to seek help in fighting the forest fires from the United Nations. According to the disaster management department as of January 26, more than 17,000 hectares have been affected by fire in recent months.

The region has been experiencing abnormally hot weather for several months now. According to scientists, the drought was influenced by the unusually active El Niño climate phenomenon this season.