Govind Tekale
Once again, the Amazon is burning, and the fire is spreading uncontrollably. In Brazil, the most concerning situation is in the state of São Paulo, where nearly fifty cities are on high alert due to the proximity of the fires. Brazilian Environment Minister Marina Silva has confirmed that more than 30 investigations are underway to determine the cause of the fires. At least two people have been arrested.
Brazilian Civil Defense has sent humanitarian aid, including mattresses, water, and basic food baskets, to some of the areas hit hardest by the fires. The high temperatures at the start of the week, combined with low humidity and strong wind gusts, have allowed the flames to spread across Brazil’s richest and most populous state. The São Paulo government has also established a 100 million reais ($18 million) fund to subsidize rural insurance for affected farmers and ranchers.
One of the hardest-hit areas is Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo’s eighth most populous city with 700,000 residents. Some residents have evacuated their homes due to the approaching fires, schools have been closed, and flights have been canceled due to low visibility caused by smoke. As of Sunday, at least 21 municipalities still have active fires, with authorities suspecting that the blazes may have been intentionally set.
Similar Posts
A Brazilian Supreme Court judge ordered the government on Tuesday to deploy the “largest contingent” of military and police forces within 15 days to combat the wave of fires in the Pantanal and Amazon regions. The magistrate stated in the ruling that an “intense, rapid, and efficient” effort is necessary in response to a situation that constitutes a “public calamity” with “irreparable and severe” damage.
On Monday, August 26th, authorities from Bolivia and Brazil met to coordinate joint operations in the Amazon region they share to extinguish the fires. Nearly two million hectares of grasslands, farmland, and forests have been consumed by fire in Bolivia’s Santa Cruz province, the country’s agro-industrial hub. Although there have been no reported fatalities in Bolivia, the flames have burned livestock, wildlife, and forced the evacuation of small communities and farms. A light aircraft and three helicopters are supporting the efforts of around 5,000 firefighters.
