Large parts of Brazil face most severe drought conditions in 44 years

Fifteen out of 27 Brazilian federative units are facing the most dramatic drought conditions in the past 44 years, according to a report released by the Brazilian Center for Natural Disaster Monitoring and Alerts on Monday.

Brazil suffered from a heat wave earlier this year, experiencing record-breaking high temperatures from May to August. Since Brazil's dry season extends from May to November, the low precipitation levels provide no relief from the unexpectedly hot weather. Meanwhile, the Amazon Basin is enduring one of its most severe droughts in recent years in 2024, a situation exacerbated by climate change and affecting several countries in the region, including Brazil.

The extreme drought, which has persisted for as long as 12 months, has led to frequent wildfire outbreaks, worsening the situation to the extent that authorities have declared a "war against fire." A surge in forest fires has affected 30 cities in Brazil's Sao Paulo state and resulted in two deaths, according to a report by Reuters earlier this month. Data from the National Institute for Space Research of Brazil also shows that the total number of fire cases since the beginning of 2024 in Brazil has reached its highest level in the past 14 years.

Unprecedented wildfires have severely impacted Brazil's sugar production, as large-scale fires have damaged sugarcane fields. Since sugarcane is still in the sprouting stage at this time of the year, farmers may need to replant crops with root damage or expect a yield loss in the next harvest season. As a major supplier of sugar, Brazil's drought situation is likely to further affect the global supply of sweeteners and elevate prices, according to The Straits Times.

(Cover image by CFP) 

(With input from agencies)