Brazil issues highest level of warning due to fires

Arab Weather - Forest fires broke out across Sao Paulo state, the most populous in Brazil, leading to the highest alert levels being raised in 30 cities. Smoke covered the capital's sky. Low humidity and high temperatures, which exceeded 35 degrees Celsius, contributed to creating favorable conditions for fires in the dry southeastern region.

The São Paulo state government created a crisis cell on Friday to coordinate firefighting efforts. State Governor Tarcisio de Freitas said on X:

“We currently have 30 cities on high alert due to major fires and we are working to control the situation to ensure safety.”

Local authorities reported the deaths of two workers at a factory in the municipality of Orobes, north of the state, while trying to put out a fire. The fire also disrupted transportation, as the thick smoke reduced visibility and brought traffic to a partial or complete standstill on dozens of highways.

Massive forest fires continue to rage in Brazil pic.twitter.com/lSbPHKIcC7

— American Events (@NewsNow4USA) August 27, 2024

Thick gray fog covered the sky of the Brazilian capital

In the capital, Sao Paulo, a thick gray haze covered the city’s sky, and the government warned that winds could help the fires spread quickly. “The fires release thick, toxic smoke that harms the environment and public health, causing respiratory problems and cardiovascular disorders,” it said.

In the city of São José do Rio Preto, with a population of 480,000, more than 335 fires have been recorded in recent days, leading to the closure of schools.

Brazil is suffering from a series of extreme weather-related disasters, most recently a massive fire in the Pantanal wetlands, as well as rare, once-in-a-century flooding in Rio Grande do Sul state that has killed more than 170 people.

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