Amazon already Hit by More Fires Inn 2020 than in All of Last Year

Number of hot spots in October is already 73% higher than the same month in 2019

São Paulo

The number of fires in the Amazon until October 22, 2020 is already higher than that recorded throughout 2019.

So far, 89,604 fires have been recorded in the Amazon this year. Throughout 2019, the number of fires was 89,176. The current year also exceeds several previous ones, such as 2018 and 2016.

Xapuri, in Acre. (Foto: CAIO GARCIA GUATELLI/Folha Imagem SNAP 16) - CAIO GUATELLI

The growth of fires in the Amazon is happening despite the Armed Forces' presence, in Operation Green Brazil 2, in the forest since May.

Considering only the month of October, until the 22nd, Inpe (National Institute for Space Research) registered 13,574 hot spots, 73% more than the same month last year. The number is also 27% higher than that of October 2018 and is on track to surpass 2016 and 2017.

The fires have been growing month after month since June this year. In relation to that observed in 2019, August 2020 had a slightly lower record. Still, in that month, there was a problem with the satellites that measure the biome's fire, which resulted in an underestimated value.

Translated by Kiratiana Freelon

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