A large fire unleashed an emergency on October 12 in western Bucaramanga, where more than 50 homes were consumed by flames, leaving dozens of families affected and at least five people with burns of various degrees.

The conflagration in the Las Pilas sector spread quickly due to the characteristics of the terrain, the proximity between buildings and the strong gusts of wind that fanned the fire.

In a matter of minutes, the fire spread throughout much of the sector, forcing residents to evacuate immediately to save their lives.

Units from the Bucaramanga Fire Department arrived at the scene, supported by relief agencies from the metropolitan area, the Civil Defense, the Metropolitan Police and groups specialized in emergency response.

The control efforts lasted for several hours, while attempts were made to prevent the flames from reaching other nearby sectors.

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During the emergency, several people were injured with first and second degree burns. The injured were urgently transferred to healthcare centers in the city, where they receive medical attention. The authorities confirmed that, despite the magnitude of the fire, there were no fatalities.

The mayor in charge of Bucaramanga, Javier Sarmiento, reported that once the fire is completely extinguished, the official census of the affected families will begin, in order to coordinate the delivery of humanitarian aid. The president called for citizen solidarity to support those who lost everything in this tragedy.

The causes of the fire have not yet been established and are the subject of investigation by the competent authorities.

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