The Brazilian government has dispatched nearly 1,500 firefighters to tackle severe fires in the Amazon rainforest, which have been intensified by the worst drought in decades.
Despite a reduction in deforestation since President Lula da Silva’s inauguration in January 2023, satellite data reveals 59,000 fires this year—the highest number since 2008.
The fires have enveloped Porto Velho in smoke, impacting its 540,000 residents. The vital “flying rivers” of moisture above the rainforest have been replaced by smoke, and fires in the Pantanal wetlands have been worsened by human-induced climate change.
Environment Minister Marina Silva attributed the crisis to global warming and El Niño. Authorities have mobilized 1,489 firefighters and requested fire bans in affected states.
The drought has resulted in record-low river levels and significant ecological damage, threatening endangered species and forest ecosystems. Recent studies indicate that the Amazon’s resilience is weakening, raising concerns about potential irreversible damage to this crucial carbon sink.
