Over 1000 hectares have been affected by fires in the province of Los Santos, including around 200 hectares in the La Tronosa forest reserve, in Valle de Tonosí, so far this year.

Bolívar Domínguez, director of MiAmbiente en Los Santos said that in the last four summers the burnings had been reduced, but this year "they have increased drastically".  

He said that there are many factors that are influencing the increase of the burning: the intense heat, strong breezes, carelessness of producers and the slopes of the land where fires have occurred.  

The only thing that contained the fire on the La Tronosa reserve were the rivers Guánico and Tonosí.  

According to the authorities, the Quema, Nuario, Quito, Bombacho, Buena Vista and Canajagua mountain ranges are the areas with the highest number of burned farms.