The skies of Rondônia, Brazil, once celebrated for their purity, have turned into a thick blanket of smoke. Wildfires, mainly man-made, are devastating large areas across South America, from Ecuador to Paraguay’s Chaco forest. These fires have forced schools to close and grounded flights in Porto Velho, Rondônia’s riverside capital. Health centers, like the polyclinic run by Dr. Lilian Samara de Melo Lima, are seeing a surge in respiratory issues and other health complaints.
This year’s wildfires are worse than previous years. Ranchers and farmers have long used fires to clear land, but a historic drought, linked to El Niño and climate change, has exacerbated the situation. Erika Berenguer, a fire expert from Oxford University, noted that satellite data shows record fire “hotspots” across Colombia, Guyana, and Venezuela. The fires are not limited to Brazil, affecting countries across the continent.
In Paraguay, fires have ravaged over 180,000 hectares of dry forest and savannah. The Ayoreo people, some of South America’s only uncontacted nomads, have seen their hunting grounds destroyed. Many fear for their survival as their food sources and shelter disappear.
Peru has declared states of emergency in six regions as fires sweep through the Andes and Amazon. At least 20 people have died, and thousands of hectares have burned. Prime Minister Gustavo Adrianzén angered locals by blaming traditional slash-and-burn practices. Experts, however, say the fires were likely set to clear land for illegal farming, ranching, and coca cultivation.
In Ecuador, Christian Rivera, a paramedic with 30 years of experience, said he had never seen a fire emergency on such a scale. Fires in the capital, Quito, continue to rage, fueled by the global climate crisis. Rivera emphasized the urgent need for action to combat these destructive blazes.
In Bolivia, President Luis Arce declared a national disaster as wildfires ravaged 4.6 million hectares of forest, with 7 million hectares lost in Santa Cruz alone. This is the worst environmental disaster in the region’s history.
Health officials in Porto Velho, like Marilene Penati, are urging people to take the climate crisis seriously. Quoting Pope Francis, Penati warned that the Earth is crying out for help. But despite the warnings, the world continues to ignore these urgent pleas, she lamented.
South America’s wildfires are a stark reminder of the urgent need for global action to combat climate change and save our planet.