Most fires in Guatemala's Mayan jungle are arson, says fire chief | Video

Guatemala City, June 17 (EFE).- The scar from the fires in the Laguna del Tigre National Park, in northern Guatemala, is "enormous" and "ecosystems that are fundamental for the survival of animals and humans have been damaged," says Walter Mayorga, the head of the forest firefighters who fought the fire in the Mayan jungle of the Central American country.

CAMERA: DAVID TORO

STATEMENTS BY WALTER MAYORGA, FOREST FIREFIGHTER AND COORDINATOR OF FIRE PREVENTION AND CONTROL IN THE DEPARTMENT OF PETÉN:

When we analyze the fire situation, we see that obviously more than 95% of the fires are arson. Unfortunately, there are groups in the park that are not recognized as community groups. Because they have invaded a core zone, but somehow they live inside the park. I believe that these people, not all of them, but I think that some of them cause this damage to make people believe that there is no more forest, that the park no longer has park qualities and that they can do what they want there.

Metadata

Date: 17/06/2024 16:54 (UTC)
Credit: EFE
Source: EFE
Topic: Disaster and accident » Fire
Disaster and accident
Type: Rough cut
Duration: 42 seconds
Reference: 55013898982
Relevance: Normal