11 million people affected
Already in August, almost half of the year’s forest fires were recorded. The fire covers meadows and pastures used for agricultural purposes.
The Rainforest Foundation reports [ang] :
The Brazilian Amazon registered a 104% increase in fire hotspots during the same eight-month period (January to August) compared to 2023, worsening an already critical situation. According to Brazil’s National Institute for Space Research (INPE), there were over 65,000 fire hotspots by the end of August 2024—the highest number for this period since 2005. Of these fire hotspots, over 38,000 were recorded in August alone, an increase of 120% compared to the same month last year, which recorded 17,373 fire hotspots.
Data from MapBiomas reveal that over five million acres were burned in the Brazilian Amazon in August alone. This year, the total burned area amounts to 13.4 million acres — an area larger than entire countries like Costa Rica or Denmark.
During the same eight-month period (January to August), the Brazilian Amazon recorded a 104 percent increase in the number of fires compared to 2023, worsening an already critical situation. According to Brazil’s National Institute for Space Research (INPE), more than 65,000 fires were recorded at the end of August 2024, the highest number for this period since 2005. More than 38,000 of them were reported nothing than in August, an increase of 120 percent compared to the same month last year, when 17,373 fires were recorded.
MapBiomas data shows [ang] that more than five million acres burned in the Brazilian Amazon in August alone. This year, fires total 13.4 million acres, an area larger than entire countries like Costa Rica or Denmark.
Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Pará, Tocantins, Amazonas and São Paulo, located in the central-west, north and southeast regions, are the states with the highest number of fires recorded in August [pdf, 4, 8 MB ].
The National Confederation of Municipalities (CNM) estimates that 11 million people have been directly affected by the forest fires. According to the organization’s report, economic losses amount to at least 1.1 billion Brazilian reais (approximately 203 million US dollars).
Worst air quality in the world
On September 9, 2024, around 10 a.m., Sao Paulo topped the ranking of 120 major cities with the worst air quality in the world. Some areas recorded poor to very poor air quality.
The Swiss site IQAir, which calculates the index, gave the city of São Paulo a score of 160. According to the site, on a scale of 0 to 50, the score is good; on a scale of 151 to 200, it is considered unhealthy. The main reasons that brought Sao Paulo to first place are high temperatures, low relative humidity and smoke from fires.
Forest fires were also reported in the state of São Paulo, as reported by Agência Brasil [ang]:
The Civil Defense of São Paulo has extended its high-risk alert for wildfires across the state through Tuesday, 10th Sept. According to the Emergency Management Center, temperatures are expected to continue rising, with relative humidity falling to critical levels below 35 percent over the coming days. (…)
The area with the worst air quality in São Paulo is Ponte dos Remédios, along the Tietê River. This location recorded high levels of fine inhalable particles (PM2.5), which are small enough to penetrate deep into the respiratory system.
These particles are associated with increased risks of heart and lung diseases.
São Paulo Civil Defense has extended its high risk alert for forest fires in the state until Tuesday, September 10. According to the Emergency Management Center, temperatures are expected to continue to rise and relative humidity is expected to drop to critical levels below 35 percent over the next few days. (…)
The area with the worst air quality in São Paulo is Ponte dos Remédios, along the Tietê River. This location recorded high levels of inhalable fine particles (PM2.5), which are small enough to penetrate deep into the respiratory system.
These particles are associated with an increased risk of heart and lung diseases.
More and more losses
ABC News, citing officials as a source, reports that about 60 percent [ang] of all the fires raging in Latin America are currently occurring in Brazil. The Guardian newspaper also writes about the fires in the region:
Huge tracts of South America have been blanketed in smoke from largely man-made wildfires that are raging from Ecuador’s drought-stricken capital to Paraguay’s Chaco forest to the backlands of the greatest tropical jungle on Earth.
The smoke has been so dramatic that passenger planes have been unable to land in Rondônia’s riverside capital, Porto Velho, and schools have been forced to close.
Vast swaths of South America are shrouded in smoke from mostly human-caused wildfires that rage from Ecuador’s arid capital to Paraguay’s Tchaco forest and the depths of the most large tropical jungle on the planet.
The smoke is so heavy that airliners have been unable to land in Porto Velho, the coastal capital of Rondônia, and schools have been forced to close.
The drought is expected to worsen losses in Brazil, which is experiencing the worst drought on record, affecting 58% of the country. According to the newspaper Folha de S.Paulo, the intensifying climate crisis is putting pressure on basic services such as energy and water supplies and reinforcing warnings about the potential long-term economic impacts of extreme events.
Brazil’s Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Marina da Silva, says the situation highlights the complex impact of climate change and criminal acts. Minister pleads for stricter sanctions [ang] in case of arson and calls what the country is currently facing “climate terrorism” [ang].
According to Silva, some groups are opposed to the current government resuming an environmental public policy agenda, as Agência Brasil reported:
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