Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva visited a riverside community near Tefé in the Amazon, expressing concern about the severe drought and wildfires plaguing the region and other parts of Brazil. Lula stated that the Amazon was facing its worst drought in over 40 years, with devastating fires affecting the Amazon, the Cerrado, and the Pantanal wetlands. More than 340,000 people have been impacted, prompting 62 municipalities in Amazonas state to declare a state of emergency.
Extreme climate events have caused record high temperatures and widespread fires in Brazil and neighboring countries like Bolivia and Peru. The effects of the wildfires and drought have reached cities like Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, with air quality plummeting and adverse health effects being felt across the country.
Greenpeace Brazil has reported that Indigenous territories in the Amazon are also being ravaged by fires, with concerns about the impact on Indigenous communities’ food sources and survival. Environment Minister Marina Silva attributes the situation to global heating and the El Niño climate pattern.
As the situation is expected to worsen in the coming weeks, concerns are growing about the long-term impact of the crisis on the environment and communities in the region. Lula’s visit underscores the urgent need for action to address the destructive wildfires and drought threatening the Amazon and other vital ecosystems in Brazil.
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