Washington [US], October 7: According to Reuters, the river port in Manaus, the largest city in the Amazon rainforest, has hit its lowest level since 1902 due to prolonged drought.
Severe drought has dried up vital waterways in the region, hampering grain exports and disrupting the supply of other essential goods and supplies. Researchers say climate change is a major factor.
According to the website of the port of Manaus in the state of Amazonas (Brazil), the water level of the Rio Negro - the main tributary of the Amazon - was measured at 12.66 meters on October 4, surpassing the all-time low recorded in 2023 and continuing to fall rapidly. Manaus port CEO Valmir Mendon stressed that the river level is likely to continue to fall in the next week or two.
This year, the Brazilian government has declared a state of alert due to drought. According to the Amazonas State Civil Defense Corps, the region has been hit hard, with at least 62 municipalities in a state of emergency and more than half a million people affected.
Extreme weather and drought are affecting parts of South America, with the Paraguay River - which originates in Brazil and flows through Paraguay and Argentina to the Atlantic Ocean - also at an all-time low. Similar extreme heat and drought are contributing to the fires in the Amazon.
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper