Amapá declares emergency situation after drought and fires advance

The measure is valid for 180 days and seeks to reinforce humanitarian assistance actions, guarantee water supply, protect communities in vulnerable situations and intensify the prevention and fight against vegetation fires.

According to the state government, municipalities in Amapá are facing fires in woodland and forest areas, in addition to a significant reduction in river levels, reflecting the dry period that affects different regions of the state.

The coordination of actions is the responsibility of the State Civil Defense, which works together with municipal civil defenses to monitor the effects of the drought and provide support to the affected populations.

The government also informed that it awaits federal recognition of the emergency situation, accompanied by the response plan drawn up by the state.

According to the decree, the decision considers the worsening of climatic conditions associated with the influence of the El Niño phenomenon, characterized by the abnormal warming of surface waters in the Pacific Ocean. The document also takes into account the increase in forest fire records and the losses faced by rural and riverside communities.

Government data shows that, since August, 611 prevention operations and 376 actions to combat fires have been carried out across the state. The activities are part of Operation Amapá Verde, which continues to operate in the 16 municipalities of Amapá.