A massive fire has been consuming vegetation for four days in the Tadarimana Indigenous Land in Rondonópolis, Mato Grosso, where the Bororo Indians live.
The indigenous people estimate that the fire has already consumed more than 5,000 hectares, equivalent to 31 Ibirapuera parks in São Paulo.
With the scarcity of rain and wind, the flames spread to the region, covering the urban area of Rondonópolis and disturbing city residents. According to the Fire Department, fires have been recorded in urban and rural areas, making the situation worse.
Approved in 1991, TI Tadarimana covers 10,000 hectares and is inhabited by just over 600 indigenous people.
Since last Friday (31), when the fire started, the indigenous people have tried unsuccessfully to contain the flames.
The Fire Department was activated and is working with eight military personnel in the region. As of Monday afternoon (3), they had not yet managed to put out the flames, not even with the support of machinery and brigade members provided by the Rondonópolis City Hall.
After three days of burning in the village, the whole region was covered in smoke. Leadership in the region, the indigenous Marcelo Koguiepa denounced the burning on social media during the weekend and said that the indigenous people suspect that the cause of the fire was natural.
Translated by Kiratiana Freelon