Amazon rainforest fires surge 74% amid El Niño drought

Wildfires in the Brazilian Amazon have surged, with official data showing a 74.2% increase in fire outbreaks in September compared to the same period in 2025. The spike is attributed to severe drought conditions driven by the El Niño phenomenon. So far this year, the region has recorded 29,580 fire outbreaks, the majority occurring in the last two months.

In the metropolitan region of Manaus, a significant fire in the Cacau Pirêra district of Iranduba burned approximately 441 hectares of vegetation. The smoke from this blaze was visible from various points in Manaus and impacted visibility on the AM-070 highway. Authorities have mobilized task forces, including environmental and civil police, to investigate the causes of the fires and identify those responsible, as the use of fire remains prohibited in Amazonas during the current climate emergency.

Experts warn that if El Niño reaches extreme intensity, it could exacerbate human-driven pressures on the biome, such as deforestation and pasture burning. While the current intensity has not yet matched the record-breaking drought of 2024, the 'Amazonian summer' dry season is expected to persist through November.