Fog and Smoke Halt Traffic on Brazil's BR-116 Near Santa Bárbara

An intense fog combined with smoke reduced visibility on the BR-116 highway near Santa Bárbara, Brazil, causing traffic to stop for about ten minutes on the night of 10 May. Local councilor Ribemar Mota recorded the conditions, noting drivers slowed and eventually halted as the haze thickened, before the flow resumed after a truck driver led the way forward.

The same highway segment, known as the Serra das Araras on the Via Dutra, derives its name from the historic abundance of macaws (araras) that once populated the Atlantic Forest in the area. Recent modernization works aim to expand and upgrade the route, improving safety and reducing congestion between São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro while preserving nearby forest remnants.