Forest fires in the Colombian department of Tolima have affected more than 50,000 hectares, including 28,000 hectares of agricultural land, according to the government balance. ^[1] President Abelardo de la Espriella announced a special plan for environmental, productive, rural, and security recovery for the department. ^[2] President Abelardo De La Espriella stated on 2026-04-12 that the wildfires in the Tolima department were deliberately caused by criminal hands based on available information and studies. ^[3] In the last 30 days, wildfires in the Tolima department of Colombia have destroyed more than 51,000 hectares of vegetation and crops. ^[4] President Abelardo de la Espriella stated that investigations indicate a significant portion of the fires were intentionally caused by criminal hands. ^[5] President Abelardo De La Espriella announced that Finagro will implement a three-month suspension of loan amortization for affected producers to provide financial relief. ^[6] The government reported that 2,660 producers are affected by the fires, with 163,000 animals at risk across 23 municipalities and 507 veredas in the Tolima department. ^[7] Of the destroyed area, 28,000 hectares correspond to agricultural zones where more than 2,800 producers are affected. ^[8] President Abelardo De la Espriella elevated the situation in the Tolima department to a public calamity. ^[9] The government announced the delivery of 343 housing subsidies, 5,000 tons of hay, and 5,000 tons of rice, alongside a freeze on loan amortizations for three months and $7 billion allocated for recovery projects. ^[10]