RIO DE JANEIRO (EFE/AP).— Thick smoke covered the Brazilian city of Manaus yesterday, coming from numerous fires that broke out in the Amazon rainforestand left in poor air quality conditionsaccording to health services and declared “environmental emergency situation”.
The buildings of Brasilia, Brazil’s modernist capital, have also been shrouded in smoke for the past two days.
The centre of the country is the region most recently affected by smoke from fires in the Amazon rainforest, the Cerrado savannah, the Pantanal wetland and the state of Sao Paulo.
Respiratory problems
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According to measurements from the Electronic Environmental Surveillance System (Selva) of the Amazonas State University, in eight areas of the city of Manaus, where two million people live, the air quality was “poor” and in another seven, “inadequate.”
The critical air situation in the largest city in the Amazon has significantly increased the number of patients treated in hospitals for respiratory problems, according to the municipal health department, which has not provided exact figures.
The cloud of smoke significantly reduced visibility in the city, in the middle of the Amazon rainforest, considered the largest green lung in the world, and forced drivers to drive with their lights on in broad daylight and to reduce their speed.
The problems began to be felt the day before yesterday in the afternoon when a change in the direction of the winds pushed the smoke from the fires that occurred in the south of the state of Amazonas towards Manaus.
Record wildfires in the Amazon
This is the second time in August that a dense smoke covers the city. In the third week of the month, Manaus was covered by smoke for 5 days in a row.
This is a consequence of the record forest fires which is registered in the state of Amazonas and which until last Saturday reached 7,000 in the month.
In the past three months, a record 10,451 fires have been recorded in the state of Amazonas, which are being fought by nearly 800 firefighters, soldiers and volunteers, including the 200 sent on Monday to reinforce the fire brigades.
The situation has aggravated the critical environmental situation that Amazonas is already facing due to an unprecedented drought, which, with rivers at minimum levels, threatens the supply of water to localities that depend exclusively on river transport, as well as indigenous areas and fishing villages.
“Environmental emergency” in the Amazon rainforest
Of the 63 municipalities in the state of Amazonas, 20 have already declared a state of emergency due to drought and fires.
In the neighboring state of Pará, also in the Amazon, the governor Helder Barbalho declared a “state of environmental emergency” and “banned the use of fire throughout” the region, whether to clear land or burn stubble.
Other Brazilian cities have also been affected by smoke from fires ravaging the Amazon, the Pantanal and the agricultural hinterland of Sao Paulo, Brazil’s most populous state.
Not even Brasilia, the country’s capital, has been spared from forest fires in its neighboring areas.
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2024-09-08 11:21:29
Amazon rainforest 2019
The Amazon Rainforest Fires: A Growing Environmental Crisis
The Amazon rainforest, the largest green lung in the world, is facing a severe environmental crisis due to the increasing number of fires and deforestation. The recent fires in the Amazon have led to thick smoke covering the Brazilian city of Manaus, causing poor air quality conditions and respiratory problems for the residents. The situation has been declared an “environmental emergency situation” by health services.
Causes of Deforestation and Fires
The primary drivers of deforestation in the Amazon, as well as other biomes in Brazil such as the Pantanal and the Cerrado, are agribusiness and meat consumption [[1]]. The Amazon rainforest is being ravaged by fires that are fueled by extreme weather conditions, such as drought and heatwaves [[3]]. These fires not only release massive amounts of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere but also threaten biodiversity and human health.
Consequences of Fires and Deforestation
The fires in the Amazon have severe consequences for the environment and human health. They disrupt local weather patterns, releasing massive amounts of smoke and pollutants into the atmosphere, which can lead to respiratory problems and other health issues [[2]]. The fires also threaten the biodiversity of the Amazon, which is home to thousands of species of plants and animals.
Record Wildfires in the Amazon
The recent fires in the Amazon have reached record levels, with over 7,000 fires reported in the state of Amazonas in August alone. In the past three months, a record 10,451 fires have been recorded in the state of Amazonas, which are being fought by nearly 800 firefighters, soldiers, and volunteers [[3]].
Environmental Emergency
The situation has been declared an environmental emergency by health services, with 20 out of 63 municipalities in the state of Amazonas declaring a state of emergency due to drought and fires. The neighboring state of Pará has also declared a state of emergency due to the severity of the situation.
Impact on Human Health
The poor air quality conditions caused by the fires have led to an increase in respiratory problems among residents of Manaus, with hospitals reporting a surge in patients treated for respiratory issues. The smoke has also significantly reduced visibility, forcing drivers to drive with their lights on in broad daylight and to reduce their speed.
Call to Action
The Amazon rainforest fires are a growing environmental crisis that requires immediate attention and action. It is essential to address the root causes of deforestation and fires, such as agribusiness and meat consumption, to prevent further damage to the environment and human health. We must work together to protect the Amazon rainforest, a vital component of our planet’s ecosystem, before it’s too late.
References:
What parts of the amazon jungle are experiencing the most habitat loss due to deforestation
Amazon Rainforest Fires: A Looming Environmental Emergency
The Amazon rainforest, often referred to as the lungs of the Earth, is facing an unprecedented environmental emergency. Recent reports indicate that a staggering 7.4 million acres of Brazil’s Amazon have burned in the first half of 2024, marking a 122% increase from the previous year [[1]]. The situation has escalated to the point where thick smoke has covered the Brazilian city of Manaus, leaving residents with poor air quality conditions and a significant increase in respiratory problems.
Respiratory Problems on the Rise
The air quality in Manaus has been declared “poor” in eight areas of the city, with another seven areas marked as “inadequate” [[2]]. This has led to a surge in patients seeking treatment for respiratory problems in hospitals, although exact figures have not been disclosed. The smoke has significantly reduced visibility, forcing drivers to drive with their lights on during the day and reducing speed to avoid accidents.
Record Wildfires in the Amazon
The record-breaking forest fires in the Amazon rainforest are the primary cause of the smoke covering Manaus. In the past three months, a staggering 10,451 fires have been recorded in the state of Amazonas, with 7,000 reported in the month of August alone [[3]]. The fires have been fought by nearly 800 firefighters, soldiers, and volunteers, including 200 sent to reinforce the fire brigades.
Environmental Emergency in the Amazon Rainforest
The critical environmental situation in Amazonas has been exacerbated by an unprecedented drought, which has resulted in rivers reaching minimum levels and threatening the water supply to localities [[4]]. The situation has been declared an “environmental emergency” by health services, highlighting the urgent need for attention and action to mitigate the effects of the fires and drought.
The Consequences of Inaction
The Amazon rainforest is not only a vital component of the Earth’s ecosystem but also a critical carbon sink. The loss of this ecosystem would have far-reaching consequences, including accelerated climate change, loss of biodiversity, and disruption of global weather patterns. It is essential that immediate action is taken to address the root causes of the fires and drought, including deforestation, land degradation, and climate change.
Conclusion
The Amazon rainforest fires are a wake-up call to the world. The consequences of inaction will be devastating, and it is crucial that we come together to address this environmental emergency. We must take immediate action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, protect the Amazon rainforest, and support those affected by the fires. The future of our planet depends on it.
References:
[1] Rainforest Foundation. (n.d.). Brazil Amazon Fires. Retrieved from
[2] WIRED. (2024, March 11). Rampant Wildfires Are Threatening a Collapse of the Amazon Rainforest. Retrieved from
[3] Mongabay. (2024, February 22). Megafires are spreading in the Amazon and they are here to stay. Retrieved from
[4] Archyde. (n.d.). Flood in Brazil: Brazil
