Brazil Hit by Historic Drought

Devastating Drought Affects 59% of Brazil’s Land Area

Brazil’s National Natural Disaster Monitoring and Warning Center has released data showing that the country’s drought this year has spread to approximately 5 million square kilometers, impacting about 59% of the country’s land area.

Widespread Fires and Land Damage

According to the Environmental Satellite Applications Laboratory of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, around 3 million hectares of land have been damaged by fires in the last three months. The number of fires in Brazil’s Pantanal has increased significantly compared to the same period in 2023.

Smoke and Air Quality Concerns

The Brazilian National Institute for Space Research reports that nearly 5 million square kilometers of land in Brazil are covered in smoke. Many flights have been canceled in the northwestern state of Rondonia and elsewhere due to poor air quality. Local governments are advising people to avoid outdoor activities.

Record Low Water Levels in the Amazon Basin

Data from the Brazilian Geological Survey shows that the Madera, Acre, and Solimões rivers in the Amazon basin have reached record low levels. The water level of the Madeira River in the Amazon River Basin has continued to fall since July, reaching the lowest level since records began in 1967.

Causes of the Drought

Experts believe that the causes of this drought include natural factors such as El Niño, as well as human activities such as deforestation and the use of illegal fire.

Government Response

Brazilian President Lula visited the Amazon region and announced that he would allocate 500 million reais (about US$89.85 million) for river dredging and plans to resume construction of the road connecting Manaus and Porto Velho. The president emphasized the importance of building the highway due to the drought, which is making water transport and logistics difficult.