Record Wildfires Ravage Roraima, Threaten Yanomami and Amazon

Over 2,000 fires in February mark a new high, as climate change and El Niño exacerbate the crisis.

Roraima, Brazil's northernmost state, has experienced a record-breaking number of wildfires in February, with over 2,000 fires detected.
The fires have significantly impacted the Yanomami Indigenous people, exacerbating an existing humanitarian crisis.
Experts attribute the surge in fires to a combination of factors, including El Niño, climate change, and possibly arson.
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's administration has taken steps to address the crisis, including declaring a state of environmental emergency in several regions.
Despite a significant reduction in deforestation rates in 2023, the fires in Roraima highlight the ongoing vulnerability of the Amazon rainforest.