Reports from Brazil's National Institute for Space Research (INPE) and international environmental organizations

Brazil's Amazon Wildfires Hit 14-Year High with 38,266 Hotspots Amid Severe Drought

Sep 1, 2024, 03:45 PM

Brazil is experiencing a severe fire season, with significant wildfires affecting the Amazon rainforest, Sao Paulo state, and the Pantanal wetlands. The fires in the Amazon have reached a 14-year high, with satellites detecting 38,266 fire hotspots in August, more than double compared to the previous year. The smoke from these wildfires is spreading across the country, reaching as far as Sao Paulo. In addition to the fires, Brazil is also facing its worst drought in over four decades, which is threatening key agricultural sectors, including sugar cane, coffee, and soybean crops. Climate change and deforestation are exacerbating these environmental challenges.