Brazil’s Amazon rainforest is facing a severe drought that could affect around 500,000 people by the end of the year, authorities said Tuesday.
Many already struggle to access basic necessities, such as food and water, as the main mode of transportation in the region is waterways, and river levels are historically low. Droughts also impact fishing, which is a means of livelihood for many riverine communities.
Amazonas state declared an environmental emergency two weeks ago in response to prolonged drought and launched a response plan valued at US$20 million. Authorities will also distribute food and water, as well as personal hygiene kits, the state’s civil defense agency said in a statement.
Governor Wilson Lima traveled to Brasilia, Brazil’s capital, on Tuesday to meet with federal government officials. He spoke with President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva about the drought.
The different levels of government “will coordinate support measures for people living in affected municipalities,” Mr. Lima said on X, the former Twitter platform, on Sunday.
Fifteen municipalities were in a state of emergency on Tuesday, while 40 others were on alert, according to civil defense.
According to the port of Manaus, which monitors water levels, the river stood at 16.7 meters on Tuesday, about 6 meters lower than the same day last year. The lowest water level was recorded on October 24, 2010, when the river fell to 13.6 meters.
The drought is expected to last longer and be more intense due to the El Niño weather phenomenon, which prevents the formation of rain clouds, the civil defense authority said.
Climate change is exacerbating droughts by making them more frequent, longer and more severe. Warmer temperatures increase evaporation, which reduces surface water and dries soils and vegetation.