A continent on fire.. South America breaks the record for fires

Arab Weather - South America is exposed to widespread destruction due to fires that broke out in the Amazon rainforest in Brazil, passing through the largest wetlands in the world and reaching the dry forests in Bolivia. Until September 11, a record number of fires was recorded, exceeding the previous number recorded in 2007.

Satellite data and fire acceleration

According to satellite data analysed by the Brazilian space research agency INPE, 346,112 fires have been detected across all 13 South American countries so far this year, surpassing the previous record set in 2007. A Reuters photographer, travelling through the Brazilian Amazon, witnessed massive fires consuming vegetation, blackening the landscape and leaving trees looking like burnt matchsticks.

• Smoke covers the sky and darkens the cities

Thick smoke from fires in Brazil has blanketed the skies over cities like Sao Paulo, creating a smoke trail visible from space that stretches diagonally across the continent from Colombia to Uruguay. Despite major efforts by Brazil and Bolivia, controlling the fires remains difficult due to extreme weather conditions.

There are 9,803 forest fires in South America, concentrated in:

• Bolivia, 3,749 hotspots.
• Brazil 5,640 hotspots (76%).
• Paraguay, 397 hotspots.
• Ecuador, 7 hotspots.
• Argentina, 10 hotspots

Wildfires Continue to Devastate Latin America

• Peru: Deaths and injuries from smoke inhalation

Forest fires have broken out in several areas of Peru, killing one person and injuring 16 others from smoke inhalation. In an attempt to control the flames, the air force dropped 10,000 liters of water in the neighboring Piura region. The Lambayeque government announced that 16 people were poisoned in the Incahuasi area of Verinavi department, and those affected are being treated with medical oxygen at local health centers. A woman died after suffering third-degree burns, according to the mayor of Incahuasi.

• Paraguay: High alert

Paraguay's fire department remains on high alert due to a large-scale fire threatening the Chaco region on the border with Bolivia. The flames are approaching a nature reserve in the Alto Paraguay department, officials said. The fire has swept through the Chufurica area, where there are large agricultural properties, said Ray Mendoza, the second national commander of the fire department.

• Brazil: Amazon fires on the rise

As the drought intensifies in the Brazilian Amazon, fires have multiplied, with 3,640 active fires recorded in the country, half of them in the Amazon. Amazonas state alone has seen 237 fires, while a huge blaze near Brasilia has destroyed 10,000 hectares of the Chapada dos Viaderos National Park.

• Argentina: Uncontrollable Fires

In Argentina, fires continue to advance uncontrollably in parts of Cordoba province, with the greatest activity concentrated in the city of La Calera, about 10 kilometers from the regional capital.

• Bolivia: Fires Threaten Biodiversity

Forest fires in Bolivia have consumed more than 4 million hectares since July 2024, putting many large animals at risk. Rescuers are moving injured animals to shelters, especially calves that have been left vulnerable to poachers. Biologist Eliamín Gutiérrez explained that these fires not only harm the animals physically, but also leave them without food or shelter.

• Bolivia: Suspension of schools and flights

Due to the heavy smoke, the Bolivian government announced virtual classes in the affected provinces, and closed Viru Viru Airport in Santa Cruz.

Major cities such as Santa Cruz, Cochabamba and La Paz woke up to thick clouds of smoke, prompting the government to declare a national state of emergency.

• Ecuador: Huge losses due to fires

From January to September 2024, Ecuador recorded 2,469 forest fires, resulting in the loss of approximately 28,657 hectares of vegetation. In the past two weeks, approximately 16,000 hectares have burned due to drought in the Andes.

The role of climate change in fires

Scientists believe most of the fires are caused by humans, but rising temperatures and droughts caused by climate change are accelerating the spread of the flames. Carla Longo, a researcher at the National Institute for Space Research, said temperatures in São Paulo have exceeded 32 degrees Celsius, reflecting an unprecedented change in weather.

• Protests in Bolivia and the impact of fires on wildlife

In La Paz, the Bolivian capital, hundreds of people demonstrated to demand urgent action to combat the fires, which have burned millions of hectares of land and killed millions of animals. “We have lost millions of hectares of land and forests, and millions of animals have been burned,” said activist Fernanda Negrón.

• The impact of fires on health and air quality

Earlier this week, pollution levels in Sao Paulo reached the worst levels in the world, surpassing even China and India. According to IQAir.com, the smoke has contributed to poor air quality in several cities, including La Paz. Studies suggest that inhaling smoke from the wildfires could kill 12,000 people a year in South America, increasing the risk of respiratory problems and premature death.

See also:

Forest fires..how do they start and how do we prevent them?

Brazil issues highest level of warning due to fires