Manaus shrouded in smoke: dense and continuous fog for a week raises concerns
This is the second time that the city of Manaus has been enveloped by a persistent smoke screen. The first episode occurred at the beginning of October, and according to the Brazilian Institute of the Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (Ibama), the fires carried out by farmers were responsible for this problem. The state of Amazonas has been in a state of environmental emergency since September.
This is the second time that Manaus has faced a constant wave of smoke – Photographic Reproduction /Antônia Martins
Manaus, the capital of the state of Amazonas, is widely recognized for its abundant biodiversity and its strategic location in the heart of the largest tropical forest in the world, the Amazon. However, in recent days, the city is facing an alarming situation. The capital of Amazonas is in the epicenter of a serious environmental crisis that affects the entire state. During the early hours and morning of this Saturday (04), the density of the smoke "cloud" that covers Manaus increased significantly. This is the second consecutive week of this persistent situation, characterized by poor air quality in the city.
Causes of Smoke Haze
The dense and persistent fog that covered Manaus has its main origin in the numerous fires that have occurred in the last three months throughout the state of Amazonas. In the month of October, in particular, we witnessed the worst incidence of fires in the last 25 years. This situation led the state government to declare a state of environmental emergency. The Amazon region is prone to fires during the dry season, and human action, such as deforestation and poor agricultural practices, often increases the severity of these fires.
Furthermore, the emission of air pollutants from urban and industrial sources contributes to the deterioration of air quality. Another issue that affects Amazonas is the water shortage in rivers. All municipalities in the state face an emergency situation, and according to Civil Defense, more than 600,000 people have already been affected by the severe drought. Manaus, for example, recorded the lowest water level in the Rio Negro in more than a century. This problem isolated rural communities, forced the closure of schools and impacted the flow of production from the Manaus Industrial Complex.
Health impacts
This is the second time that Manaus has faced a constant wave of smoke. The first time it occurred was at the beginning of October and, according to Ibama, the problem was caused by fires carried out by farmers. In the early hours of this Saturday, however, the problem, which was already serious, became even worse. Around 1 am, Manaus became completely covered again.
The smell of burning also invaded homes and caused discomfort. According to "Selva", a system developed by researchers at the State University of Amazonas (UEA), in almost all areas of the city, the air quality was terrible. The application, which considers that the air is terrible between 125 to 160, showed that around 1:30 am, the index reached 600 in the South Zone of the city and varied between 200 and 400 in the East Zone.
This morning, the situation persisted, with areas of the city completely enveloped in dense fog. Visibility remained precarious, and even the color of the sun changed, transitioning from its usual yellow to a more orange hue. According to Selva, the South Zone of the capital of Amazonas continues to be the region most impacted by this phenomenon. In Parintins and Maués, in the interior of the state, residents also face this challenge daily. In Parintins, fog covers the opposite bank of the Amazon River.
Prolonged exposure to particles from pollution from fires can affect the health of residents in the region - Photo Reproduction / Getty Images
Air quality during this critical period can affect the health of Manaus residents. Prolonged exposure to fine particulate air pollution can cause a range of health problems, including respiratory problems, heart disease, and even worsen existing medical conditions. Local hospitals have reported an increase in visits to patients with symptoms related to smoke exposure. Due to the problem, many people returned to wearing masks when leaving the house on Saturday morning.
Environmental impacts
Since September, Amazonas has been in a state of environmental emergency, a measure taken by the Governor Wilson Lima due to the uncontrolled increase in fires. When we add up the fires that occurred in the region between August, September and October, this number exceeds 15 thousand, according to the Inpe report.
Now, in November, Amazonas has already registered 72 fires in just three days, according to data provided by Inpe. To date, no municipality in the state is among the 10 that most contribute to fires in the Legal Amazon. This list includes cities in the states of Mato Grosso, Pará and Rondônia.
Fires and burning in the region also cause significant damage to the Amazon ecosystem. The destruction of the tropical forest, which is fundamental to the balance of the global climate, is particularly alarming. Furthermore, local fauna also suffers from habitat loss and food shortages due to the degradation of forest areas.
Social and economic impacts
Smoke resulting from fires also has significant impacts on the daily lives of Manaus residents. Visibility restrictions have affected road traffic and aviation, causing travel delays and logistical problems. Furthermore, the local economy suffers due to temporary shutdowns of commercial and tourist activities.
Response from authorities
In an official statement, the government of Amazonas declared that the dense fog covering the region is primarily linked to the fires that occurred in the state of Pará, and to a lesser extent, in the Metropolitan Region of Manaus. The note also highlighted that, due to the lack of rain, the hot air mass over Manaus is expected to persist, continuing to affect air quality in the coming days, as smoke particles have difficulty dissipating in these conditions.
On the other hand, the government of Pará stated that it has no confirmation that the smoke in Manaus originated in the state. The Department of the Environment highlighted that, due to the El Niño phenomenon, Pará is facing a period of low precipitation and drought. Furthermore, the agency intensified measures to prevent and combat forest fires.
