Cities on high alert as Brazil wildfires kill two
The São Paulo state government has established a crisis cabinet to address wildfires that have put 30 cities on high alert. The fires have claimed two lives and caused smoke to disrupt traffic on multiple highways, while São Paulo city is enveloped in a grey haze.
High temperatures and low humidity are exacerbating the fire risk in the state, which is experiencing a prolonged drought. According to Reuters, two workers at an industrial plant in Urupes died on Friday while battling the blaze, though further details have not been provided.
Brazil has recently faced severe wildfires in the Pantanal wetlands and significant flooding in Rio Grande do Sul. The state government has cautioned that gusty winds could cause the fires to spread rapidly, potentially destroying large areas of natural vegetation.
Governor Tarcísio de Freitas has communicated on social media, stating, “We currently have 30 cities on high alert for major fires, and we are actively working to control the situation and ensure safety.” He later added, “São Paulo is going through a challenging time, and we are dedicated to managing the fires and safeguarding the public. We have been on the ground throughout the day to respond swiftly to the most affected areas, including Piracicaba, Barrinha, Sertãozinho, and Ribeirão Preto. We will continue our efforts until the situation is under control.”
Meanwhile, the state’s capital São Paulo has been covered by a dense grey fog.
“With gusts of wind, the fire can spread rapidly,” the government warned in a statement.
“Fires emit dense and toxic smoke that harms the environment and human health, causing problems to the respiratory system and cardiovascular disorders,” it added.
The situation was critical in São Jose do Rio Preto, a city of 480,000 inhabitants, where more than 335 fires have been registered in recent days, prompting school closures, AFP reported.
Brazil has been hit by a series of extreme weather events, most recently a massive wildfire in the Pantanal wetlands in June.
At the time climate experts said this year’s wildfire season had started earlier and is more intense than in previous years.
Earlier this year in May, Brazil also experienced once-in-a-century flooding in the state of Rio Grande do Sul which left more than 170 people dead and displaced more than half a million people from their homes.
1 comment
I strongly believe that the government can take a more proactive measure to stop this wildfire . I also want to appreciate the government for the bold steps they have taken to curtail its spread