In Brazil, the city of Manaus is suffocating under the smoke of fires burning in the Amazon region

Overwhelming heat, stale air. Conditions in Manaus, the capital of the Brazilian Amazon region, have become difficult since Wednesday, October 11, as fires in the region shrouded the city of about two million people in gray smoke.

As a result of these fumes, the air that was breathed this week in the capital of the state of Amazonas (north) became among the least healthy in the world, according to the specialized website. Global Air Quality Index. In the first eleven days of October, the state recorded more than 2,700 fires. This is already the highest number for the month since official monitoring began in 1998, according to the National Institute for Space Research (Inpe).

This Brazilian institute registered 2,770 active families on Thursday since the beginning of October, an increase of 154% compared to the 1,089 families registered during the same period last year.

On the streets, some people wear masks to protect themselves. The city’s main universities canceled all activities, while the Manaus Marathon, initially scheduled for Sunday, was postponed for two months.

“There is no natural fire in the Amazon.”

In the face of the emergency, the government announced on Friday the dispatch of two helicopters and 149 additional personnel, who will be added to the 140 people already deployed to fight the fires.

Environment Minister Marina Silva protested the fires during a press conference in Brasilia. “There is no natural fire in the Amazon.”Launched on target “criminals” Who use fires to clear forests, graze livestock or grow crops.

In addition to these fires, the region is experiencing an exceptionally severe drought that has brought the level of waterways to a critical threshold. Half a million people are affected, whether for transportation or supplies.

Many of the Amazon’s major rivers are currently at historically low levels, disrupting navigation and isolating hundreds of riverside communities. In Lake Teifi, hot shallow waters likely killed dozens of river dolphins. Most of them were pink dolphins, an endangered species.

Risks of respiratory diseases

When, after the start of the year and the return of the president of the house, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, the deforestation of a 50% discount from the offer at the beginning of the year 2022, this will be presented in a multiplication in February. On the side.

“It is a very dangerous situation because three factors intersect: major drought caused by El Niño, drying out of large amounts of organic matter, and arson on private property and public lands.”M stressed^I Silva.

Health Ministry official Marcio Garcia warned that the smoke filling Manaus was causing people to flee “Significant risks, especially for respiratory diseases” She called on local residents to avoid exposure to it as much as possible.