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Manaus air quality reaches critical levels amid Amazon wildfires
Wildfires in the Amazon, exacerbated by El Niño-induced drought, have caused critical air pollution in Manaus, which recently recorded the worst air quality among Brazilian capitals with an IQAir index of 167. In response to the heavy smoke, the University of the State of Amazonas suspended all in-person academic and administrative activities, and municipal schools also halted in-person classes as a preventive measure.
The Amazonas government has declared a state of emergency in 36 municipalities. The Brazilian Ministry of Health is monitoring the health impacts on the population, particularly vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly, and pregnant women, while assessing oxygen supplies in territories including indigenous districts. To assist, Fiocruz and the Indigenous Health Secretariat are developing the AlertAr Saúde-Sesai system to provide early warnings to indigenous villages.
On the environmental front, Ibama and ICMBio are coordinating a task force of 330 firefighters, 11 aircraft, and 32 vehicles to combat the fires. While recent data from Inpe shows a reduction in deforestation alerts compared to previous years, authorities are investigating potential criminal coordination behind the current surge in fires.
Entities
Amazonas · Amazonas Military Fire Brigade · Edifício Ajuricaba · El Shaday · Fiocruz · IBAMA · ICMBio · Manaus · Ministry of Health · University of the State of Amazonas
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The recorded PM2.5 levels in Manaus were approximately 6.6 times the WHO daily reference value of 15 micrograms.
- [● 11 SOURCES] The University of the State of Amazonas reported an aggravation in air quality via its electronic environmental surveillance system. paraonline.com.br · salvadornoticia.com · www.bemparana.com.br · gazetaderondonia.com.br · ejornais.com.br · +6 more
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Fiocruz and the Indigenous Health Secretariat are developing the AlertAr Saúde-Sesai system to warn indigenous villages about smoke risks.
- [● 11 SOURCES] The University of the State of Amazonas suspended all in-person academic activities and administrative tasks across all units. paraonline.com.br · salvadornoticia.com · www.bemparana.com.br · gazetaderondonia.com.br · ejornais.com.br · +6 more
- [● 11 SOURCES] In-person classes in the municipal school system were suspended as a preventive measure. paraonline.com.br · salvadornoticia.com · www.bemparana.com.br · gazetaderondonia.com.br · ejornais.com.br · +6 more
- [DISPUTED] The federal government mobilized 330 firefighters, 32 vehicles, and several aircraft to combat fires in Amazonas. jornalenoticias.com.br · mauaagora.com.br · www.juruaemtempo.com.br
- [○ 1 SOURCE] On October 8, Fiocruz's monitoring station in Manaus recorded a daily average of 99 micrograms of PM2.5 per cubic meter.
- [● 11 SOURCES] The IQAir platform recorded an air quality index of 167 in Manaus, classified as unhealthy. paraonline.com.br · salvadornoticia.com · www.bemparana.com.br · gazetaderondonia.com.br · ejornais.com.br · +6 more
- [● 7 SOURCES] The Ministry of Health is monitoring the health impacts of wildfires on the population in Amazonas. www.acessa.com · bsbtimes.com.br · itapevinoticias.com.br · rpnews.com.br · destakjornal.com.br · +2 more
- [● 7 SOURCES] The government of Amazonas has declared a state of emergency in 36 municipalities due to forest fires. www.acessa.com · bsbtimes.com.br · itapevinoticias.com.br · rpnews.com.br · destakjornal.com.br · +2 more
- [● 8 SOURCES] Ibama is conducting operations to prevent and combat forest fires in the state of Amazonas. www.acessa.com · bsbtimes.com.br · itapevinoticias.com.br · jornalenoticias.com.br · www.juruaemtempo.com.br · +3 more