Brazil Faces Worst Drought on Record

Historic low river levels and widespread fires devastate Brazilian regions
By Newser.AI Read our AI policy
Posted Sep 9, 2024 9:54 PM CDT
Brazil Faces Worst Drought on Record
Fires spread through the environmental protection area of Pouso Alto, in Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park, during dry season, in Colinas do Sul, Goias state, Brazil, Monday, Sept. 9, 2024.   (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)

Brazil is currently facing its most severe drought since record-keeping began over 70 years ago, with 59% of the country under stress. That's an area equivalent in size to about half of the US. "This is the first time that a drought has covered all the way from the North to the country's Southeast," a researcher at the National Center for Monitoring and Early Warning of Natural Disasters said in a statement. Amazon basin rivers are at historic lows, while unchecked manmade wildfires are creating serious air quality issues. In Sao Paulo on Monday, the air pollution registered as the second-worst globally, behind Lahore, Pakistan, based on IQAir data.

The dry season commenced earlier and has been more severe compared to previous years, exacerbating wildfire conditions. Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park, a notable tourist destination, is particularly hard-hit. Park head Nayara Stacheski highlighted the extremely low humidity, strong winds, and intense heat as critical factors worsening the fires.

Beyond the fires, low river levels have stranded numerous Amazonian communities that can only be reached by water, such as the Tikuna tribe's village of Fidadelfia. Local leader Myrian Tikuna depicted the severity of the situation in a photograph showing the once-mighty Amazon River reduced to sandbanks. "This used to be the Amazon River," Tikuna said. "Now it's a desert. If things get worse, our people will disappear. Now we are realizing the severity of climate change." Substantial rain is not expected until October. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)

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