Curuá riverbank erosion destroys homes and displaces families

Severe riverbank erosion, locally known as ‘terras caídas’, has struck a community in the municipality of Curuá, Pará. The sudden collapse of riverbanks destroyed homes and uprooted century-old trees, forcing the urgent relocation of dozens of families.

The phenomenon was intensified by a combination of climatic and hydrological factors common in August, including strong winds that create waves (banzeiros) against the banks. Additionally, the area is a route for large vessels traveling between Manaus and Pará; the turbulence from these large engines accelerates underground erosion. The loss of large vegetation, such as 30-meter-tall chestnut trees, has also contributed to the instability of the soil.