Amazon Burning: International resources mobilized to fight wildfires in Bolivia

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Let's turn to Bolivia now where the raging Amazon wildfires are becoming a threat to people's health and lives. International resources are being used to tackle the crisis while domestic critics are taking aim at the government for its reluctance to declare the fires a national state of emergency. CGTN' s Dan Collyns reports from Santa Cruz.

Wildfires burning unabated in Bolivia. Firefighting efforts continue in remote parts of the country's east. More than 2,000 firefighters have been mobilized, as well as helicopters deployed along with one much larger aircraft - thanks to help from the United States.

DAN COLLYNS SANTA CRUZ "One of the world's largest firefighting aircraft, the supertanker was the first to arrive in Bolivia. This converted Boeing 747 can carry more than 18,000 gallons of water in one flight and makes several during the course of a day. Along with help from Bolivia's neighbors, this plane is gradually starting to put out the flames."

Bolivia's president, who is also running for a fourth term in office, spent the week visiting the fire-affected zone. And with no end in sight to the fires, he announced the arrival of another big plane:

EVO MORALES BOLIVIAN PRESIDENT "In four to five days the Russian aircraft IL79 will arrive. It can lift 50,000 liters of water. I have information that the Supertanker lifts 75,000 liters, almost the same as the Russian firefighting plane."

But Morales has also faced criticism for his initially slow reaction to the crisis and for refusing to rollback a new policy, approved just last month, that quadruples the area of forested land farmers are allowed to burn.

Others are outraged over Morales' reluctance to declare a national state of emergency - which they say is critical to attracting more foreign aid.

ROLY AGUILERA, SECRETARY GENERAL SANTA CRUZ REGION, BOLIVIA "We call on our president to declare a national disaster. It is not a time to think about himself, it's time to think about our country, particularly about Santa Cruz which is part of Bolivia and right now we are burning."

Help is getting to the worst affected areas but the fires - fueled by strong winds - continue to spread. Dan Collyns, CGTN, in Santa Cruz, Bolivia.