Amazonas State Declares Emergency for 20 Municipalities Amid Severe Drought

Effects of the Drought in the Amazon, July 2024 Photo: @KnowledgeZoneIn

July 9, 2024 Hour: 7:11 pm

The levels of the same in all the channels of the Amazon are below what expected for the period.

The state of Amazonas declared the emergency for 20 municipalities located on the rivers Juruá, Purus and Alto Solimões due to the severe drought they present, by decree that will enter into force this Friday for a period of 180 days.

It aims to streamline government response, as well as to mobilize resources and federal support for affected areas.

The territorial Government also declared an environmental emergency as a result of the fires in southern Amazonas, Manaus and the metropolitan region.

Last Thursday, the governorate of Rondônia also issued a decree declaring a state of emergency. It highlighted the serious situation caused by low rainfall and the significant decline in river levels.

Emergency for 180 days in Rondonia due to drought. The capital Porto Velho completed more than a month without any rainfall recorded, according to the National Institute of Meteorology – Inmet.

Source: Amazon Agency#Rondonia #Drought #Emergency pic.twitter.com/kaQQEm21gG
— Amazon Agency (@amazonagency_) July 9, 2024

The levels of the same in all the channels of the Amazon are below what expected for the period. In the 12 months up to April of this year, the Drought Monitor of the National Water and Sanitation Agency recorded a rainfall deficit of 27 percent

The Rio Negro reached 26.70 meters on Friday, compared to previous years with levels higher than 29 meters.

Meanwhile, in 2023, the Madeira River reached the lowest level ever recorded, however, the Management and Operation Center of the Amazon Protection System (Censipam), warning of an even more severe drought in 2024.