Wildfires are tearing through sugarcane fields in the northern part of São Paulo state in Brazil, causing chaos and leaving a trail of destruction. On Saturday, thick clouds of smoke blanketed nearby towns so heavily that officials had to ban outdoor sports. 🏞️🔥
The situation got so intense that a soccer match in the Brazilian championship was canceled in Ribeirão Preto, one of the most affected cities in northeastern São Paulo state. 🚫⚽
Visibility dropped drastically on some state highways, forcing closures. Local TV stations showed heartbreaking scenes of livestock that perished in the fields due to extreme heat and smoke inhalation. 🐄💔
\"The firefighters are unable to control the flames. We can't do anything,\" lamented farmer Silvio Dantas, 56, watching helplessly as gray-white smoke billowed on the horizon. \"The fire has burned plants, destroyed houses, and killed cattle. This is very tough,\" he added. 😔
The São Paulo government reported that 36 cities are on \"high alert\" as fires continue to spread during the peak of the dry season when the fields are parched and temperatures soar. 🌡️🚨
\"We are chartering planes to spray water in addition to fire department aircraft,\" stated São Paulo Governor Tarcísio de Freitas, who has established an emergency task force to tackle the crisis. ✈️💧
Tragically, on Friday in Urupês near Ribeirão Preto, two firefighters lost their lives while battling flames at a sugar mill where 200 hectares of sugarcane plantation were destroyed. 🧑🚒🙏
Raízen, the world's largest sugarcane processor, announced that operations at one of its plants in Sertãozinho have been halted since Thursday due to the fires. This could have significant impacts on sugar production and the local economy. 🏭⚠️
Even São Paulo City felt the impact, with smoke filling the skies on Friday, though it had cleared by Saturday. ☁️🏙️
As Brazil faces these devastating wildfires, communities are coming together to support one another. Let's hope for swift relief and recovery for everyone affected. 🤝💚
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
