- Thousands of acres have been burned and destroyed by the numerous wildfires sweeping Brazil
- Shocking maps show the true extent of the blaze, which have coated more than half of Brazil in smoke
- San Paolo turned dark and stormy today when thick smoke from the fires descended on the busy city
- Since Thursday, 9,500 wildfires have been detected
- According to the National Institute for Space Research (INPE) satellite data showed an 83 percent increase in fires this year
Read below for the latest updates on the Amazon rainforest fire
Brazil’s Amazon basin is home to the largest tropical forest in the world.
The forest’s carbon store is vital to the process of slowing down the pace of global warning.
Wildfires are common in the Amazon’s dry season, but this year have seen record numbers of raging blazes in the region.
More than 72,000 fires have been recorded in the Amazon Rainforest since January 2019.
And the number keeps growing this year. In comparison, there were fewer than 40,000 fires for the same period in 2018.
Amazon Rainforest fire: More than 72,000 fires have churned the forest this year (Image: REUTERS/WINDY/GOOGLE)
2.40pm update: Almost one million square miles affected by fires
An estimated measure done by Express.co.uk shows approximately 640 million acres have been affected by the fire.
Based on Google’s alert system, the area surrounded by the fire covers more than half of Brazil.
Five states suffered more forest fires this year: Fires in the mid-western state of Mato Grosso soared by 260 percent than last year, which is responsible for almost 20 percent of all the forest fires registered in the whole country from January to August.
In addition, the number of forest fires in Rondonia, Para and Acre in the northern region grew by 198 percent, 188 percent and 176 percent respectively.
Rio de Janeiro in the southeastern region saw a 173-percent growth.
Amazon rainforest fire: The areas affected by the fire is approximately 640 million acres (Image: GOOGLE)
2.25pm update: Why is Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro being criticised?
Fires often occur in the dry season in Brazil but they are also deliberately started in efforts to illegally deforest land for cattle ranching.
INPE noted that the number of fires was not in line with those normally reported during the dry season, which takes place in July and August.
Over the past decade, previous governments had managed to reduce deforestation with action by federal agencies and a system of fines.
But Mr Bolsonaro and his ministers have criticised the penalties and overseen a fall in confiscations of timber and convictions for environmental crimes.
Mr Bolsonaro has also come under increased pressure from international powers amid the rise in deforestation.
Norway and Germany halted tens of millions of dollars of Amazon protection subsidies to the Amazon Fund, accusing Brazil of turning its back on the fight against deforestation.
2.10pm update: New alerts issued in Brazil
Yellow Alert for low Humidity in Pará
Recommended Actions:
- Drink plenty of fluids
- Avoid physical activity
- Avoid sun exposure at the hottest times of the day.
Yellow alert for low humidity in Distrito Federal, Goias, Mato Grosso, Rondônia
Recommended Actions:
- Drink plenty of fluids
- Avoid physical activity
Additional reporting by Maria Ortega
1.45pm update: Map shows devastating extent of wildfires
The shocking map from InfoAmazonia below reveals the staggering extent of the wildfires raging across Brazil right now.
The red dots on the chart indicate fires burning within the last 24 hours, while yellow shading shows where the most intense blazes are burning right now.
Read more about how much of the Amazon rainforest has been lost by fires.
Amazon rainforest fire: The map shows the extent of the wildfires (Image: InfoAmazonia)
1.25pm update: Facts about the Amazon rainforest
The Amazon represents over half of the planet’s remaining rainforests and comprises the largest and most biodiverse tract of tropical rainforest in the world.
An estimated 390bn individual trees divided into 16,000 species have their home in the forest.
The rainforest has been in existence for at least 55 million years.
One in ten known species in the world lives in the Amazon rainforest: This constitutes the largest collection of living plants and animal species in the world.
12.55pm update: State of emergency declared in Brazil
The Brazilian state of Amazonas has declared an emergency in the south of the state and in its capital Manaus over the blazes.
Images have also shown the northernmost state of Roraima covered in dark smoke.
Acre, on the border with Peru, has been on environmental alert since Friday.
Amazon Rainforest fire: NASA has captured images of the fires from space (Image: NASA)
12.30pm update: Smoke captured from space
Smoke from the Amazon wildfires has been captured by satellite images released by NASA.
The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Aqua satellite captured images of several fires burning in the states of Rondônia, Amazonas, Pará, and Mato Grosso on August 11 and August 13.
12.05pm update: How did the Amazon rainforest fire start?
Wildfires often occur in the dry season in Brazil, but this year has been worse than normal, according to INPE.
INPE said the large number of wildfires could not be attributed to the dry season or natural phenomena alone.
In addition, fires are deliberately started in efforts to illegally deforest land for cattle ranching.
Some conservationist have blamed Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro for the forest fires, saying he has encouraged loggers and farmers to clear the land.
The Amazon rainforest has been fire-resistant for much of its history because of its natural moisture and humidity but NASA has said drought and human activities are causing wildfires.
A release from the space agency said: “The intensity and frequency of droughts in turn, have been linked with increases in regional deforestation and anthropogenic climate change.”
Amazon Rainforest fire: Jair Bolsonaro has been blamed by some for the wildfires (Image: GETTY)
11.35am update: Brasil President Jair Bolsonaro blamed for fires
Some conservationist have blamed Mr Bolsonaro for the raging fires.
Since taking office in January he vowed to develop the Amazon region for farming and mining, ignoring international concern over increased deforestation.
Mr Bolsonaro said he disagrees with the latest data presented, saying it was the “season of the queimada”, when farmers use fire to clear land.
He said: “I used to be called Captain Chainsaw. Now I am Nero, setting the Amazon aflame.”