Overwhelming heat, stale air. Conditions in Manaus, the capital of Brazil’s Amazon region, have been difficult since Wednesday, October 11, as fires in the region have enveloped the city of about 2 million people in gray smoke.
Because of these fumes, the air breathed this week in the capital of the state of Amazonas (north) was among the unhealthiest in the world, according to the World Air Quality Index. In the first 11 days of October, the state recorded more than 2,700 fires. According to the National Institute for Space Research (Inpe), this is already the highest monthly value since official control began in 1998.
This Brazilian institute recorded on Thursday 2,770 active households since the beginning of October, an increase of 154% compared to the 1,089 in the same period last year.
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On the streets, some people wear masks to protect themselves. The city’s main universities canceled all activities, while the Manaus Marathon, originally scheduled for Sunday, was postponed for two months.
“There is no natural fire in the Amazon”
In view of the emergency, the government announced on Friday the deployment of two helicopters and 149 additional personnel, adding to the 140 people already deployed to fight the fire.
Environment Minister Marina Silva protested against the fires during a press conference in Brasilia. “There is no natural fire in the Amazon,” she said, taking aim at “criminals” who use fire to clear forests, graze livestock or grow crops.
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In addition to these fires, the region is experiencing an exceptionally severe drought that has brought waterway levels to critical levels. Half a million people are affected by this, be it in transport or in supply.
Many of the Amazon’s major rivers are currently at historic lows, disrupting navigation and isolating hundreds of riverside communities. In Lake Tefe, heated, shallow waters likely caused the deaths of dozens of river dolphins. Most were pink dolphins, an endangered species.
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Respiratory disease risks
While deforestation has fallen by almost 50% since the beginning of the year and the return to power of left-wing President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva compared to the same period in 2022, this drought is leading to an increase in fires in the region.
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“It is an extremely serious situation due to the combination of three factors: the severe drought caused by El Niño, the drying out of large amounts of organic matter and arson on private and public land,” emphasized Ms. Silva.
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Marcio Garcia, a health ministry official, warned that the fumes in Manaus pose “significant risks, especially for respiratory diseases,” and urged the local population to avoid exposure to them as much as possible.
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