The Brazilian government is taking drastic measures to combat a surge of wildfires devastating Sao Paulo state in the southeast. As over 40 cities are on high alert, Minister Waldez Goes, the regional development minister, announced the deployment of military aircraft to fight the flames.
Initially, four aircraft will be mobilized, including a KC-390 Embraer, a troop transport plane modified to drop up to 12,000 liters of water on fire zones. The urgency of the situation is evident, with cities like Ribeirao Preto, a city of over 700,000 residents located about 300 kilometers from Sao Paulo, facing immediate threats. Residents of an upscale neighborhood in Ribeirao Preto have already been forced to evacuate their homes, as reported by the G1 news site.
Videos circulating on social media depict Ribeirao Preto shrouded in dense smoke, plunging the city into near-darkness. One video captures a person wearing a protective mask, stating, “It’s apocalyptic. Lots of wind, lots of smoke – you can’t even see the city. And it is 5:00 pm.” The severity of the situation is further highlighted by the tragic deaths of two factory workers in Urupes, a city in the northern part of Sao Paulo state, who perished while battling a fire.
The prolonged drought gripping the region has significantly exacerbated the wildfire situation. Local news organization Folha de S.Paulo reports that the region is experiencing the worst wildfires in decades, with a staggering 4,973 fires recorded this year alone.
There is a glimmer of hope as rain is expected to reach much of the affected area in the coming hours, potentially offering much-needed relief. However, the situation remains precarious, and the full extent of the damage caused by these devastating fires is yet to be determined.
