Brazil blames human action for the fires sweeping the Amazon
The Brazilian government has blamed deliberate human action for the wave of fires in Amazonas state, where 540 new hotspots were recorded in 48 hours, more than half of those detected in the whole of October 2025, according to the National Institute for Space Research. The situation has led to a state of emergency in 36 municipalities.
Brazil has blamed human activities for the surge of fires in Amazonas state, noting a significant spike in new hotspots within a short timeframe. Over 540 new fire zones were detected in just 48 hours, leading the National Institute for Space Research to declare a state of emergency in 36 municipalities. Environment and Climate Change Minister João Paulo Capobianco personally inspected the situation, observing fires in hard-to-access areas with Integration and Regional Development Minister Waldez Góes.
Experts argue these outbreaks are intentional, possibly aimed at deforesting land for future use. Capobianco emphasized the necessity of holding accountable those responsible for these criminal acts. Fire occurrences have sharply increased; 494 were reported on Saturday alone, the highest monthly total, compared to zero in the same period last year.
October 2025 saw 874 fire hotspots, a stark contrast to previous years. This has prompted health warnings in Manaus due to the pollution from the smoke. Emergency response involves a coalition of municipal, state, and federal forces, including Ibama's deployment of water-bombing aircraft, helicopters, and ground firefighters, complemented by air force resources.
The ongoing El Niño phenomenon, forecasted as one of the most intense in recent decades, exacerbates the situation, typically bringing drought to the Amazon but heavy rainfall and flooding to southern regions.
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