🔥 The Amazon is burning hotter than ever! 🔥
For the third month in a row, fires in Brazil's Amazon rainforest have surged to record levels, and it's not looking good, amigos. In September alone, satellites spotted a whopping 41,463 fire hotspots—the highest number for that month since 2010! 😱
What's causing this fiery frenzy? A severe drought linked to climate change is turning the lush green Amazon into a tinderbox. Smoke has even covered more than half of South America at times! 🏭🌎
A journey over the Amazonian state of Pará reveals miles upon miles of haze. Pará, home to the mouth of the mighty Amazon River (and the future host of next year's COP30 climate summit), recorded its highest September fire count since 2007. From the air, you can see sandy riverbanks exposed by the extremely low water levels. 🚁🌊
But here's the kicker: these fires aren't natural. People are setting them to clear land for farming or ranching. And sometimes, it's even shadier than that. According to André Guimarães from the Amazon Environmental Research Institute (Imazon), \"People are taking advantage of the fact that the forests are more flammable now, to burn them down, and then grab the land later on.\" 😡💰
Brazil's President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is calling these fires \"criminal,\" and the federal police are stepping up efforts to fight environmental crimes. From January through August, a staggering 62,268 square kilometers have burned in Brazil's Amazon. That's an area larger than Switzerland! 🗺️🔥
Usually, fires peak in August and September when it's driest, but there's hope. With the rainy season on the horizon, the blazes might finally start to die down. Let's keep our fingers crossed! 🤞🌧️
It's time to stand up for our planet and protect the lungs of the Earth. 🌍💚
Reference(s):
Fires in Brazil's Amazon rainforest region surge for third month
cgtn.com
