Wildfire Smoke Forces School Closures in Manaus Amid Intensifying El Niño Event
The city of Manaus, the largest urban center in the Brazilian Amazon, has been significantly impacted by smoke from widespread wildfires, leading to the closure of public schools. On Friday, schools were shut down to safeguard the health and well-being of students and staff. This situation is occurring amidst an intensifying El Niño event, which is projected to be the strongest on record, peaking in December. Brazil is currently experiencing extreme weather patterns, with warnings of increased rainfall and floods in the south, and severe drought and wildfires in the northern regions. The state of Amazonas alone recorded over 3,700 fire hotspots in September, nearly four times the number from the previous year, according to satellite data from Brazil's National Institute for Space Research (INPE). On a single day, Wednesday, more than 749 fires were active, resulting in poor air quality in Manaus, a city home to 2.3 million people. Residents have reported significant breathing difficulties due to the smoke ...
