Lack of rain worsens fires in Amazonas; smoke already affects more than 20 cities, including the capital

The municipality of Careiro da Várzea, in the Metropolitan Region of Manaus, has been on fire for ten days. The forest region is being destroyed by fire.

"We are in the Jatuarana community, which is in the rural area of ​​Careiro da Várzea. Here, the fire has been burning since Tuesday and has already destroyed an area equivalent to 200 football fields, according to the city hall. We still see several fires scattered throughout the forest and a lot of smoke. The fear of those who live here is that this fire will reach the houses in the region", says reporter Alexandre Hisayasu.

"I'm wearing flip-flops, I'm not wearing a mask, which isn't appropriate, right? We use cloths to cover our face so we don't inhale too much", says rural producer Lucinéia Mesquita.

In the first eight days of October, almost 20,000 fires were recorded in the state - the majority, according to firefighters, caused by human action. According to the environmental surveillance system monitored by the State University of Amazonas, the air quality in Manaus was above the limit considered terrible.

"You feel more difficulty breathing. We don't know where it could catch fire. We go home and also have to protect ourselves in some way. The health issue is really bad", says professor Thiago Gomes.

The government of Amazonas and the Ministry of the Environment reported that there was reinforcement in fire prevention and combat operations in the state. The Fire Department stated that it sent a provisional team to the city of Careiro da Várzea and that it maintains bases in 25 cities in the interior.