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Amazonas faces heatwave and wildfire crisis amid Super El Niño
The Super El Niño phenomenon is driving extreme weather across Brazil, with researchers from the Climate Impact Lab projecting approximately 13,300 heat-related deaths in the country. Globally, the study estimates 451,000 additional heat-related deaths between September 2026 and February 2027. The phenomenon is expected to keep land temperatures roughly 1.2°C above normal and increase the frequency of extremely hot days by 44%.
In the state of Amazonas, the situation is exacerbated by a surge in wildfires. The number of registered fires in the region increased by over 300% in September compared to the previous year. In Iranduba, a large-scale fire recently burned approximately 700 hectares; authorities suspect human activity, such as land clearing, may have caused the blaze.
In Manaus, thick smoke from regional fires has severely degraded air quality, prompting health officials to advise residents to limit outdoor activities and wear masks. While recent rainfall has provided some relief from the intense heat and smoke, the region remains under a 120-day ban on agricultural burning, which has been in effect since September 9.
Entities
Amazonas · Climate Impact Lab · Corpo de Bombeiros Militar do Amazonas · El Niño · INMET · Manaus · Roberto Cidade · Río Negro · Semsa
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 4 SOURCES] The El Niño phenomenon is contributing to the severe drought and increased fire risk in northern Brazil. www.halternerzeitung.de · www.klamm.de · www.upday.com · www.watson.ch
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Amazonas recorded 2,384 heat foci between September 1 and 19, 2026, representing a 282.1% increase from the 624 recorded in 2025.
- [● 4 SOURCES] The number of registered fires in the region increased by more than 300 percent in September compared to the same period last year. www.halternerzeitung.de · www.klamm.de · www.upday.com · www.watson.ch
- [● 4 SOURCES] A 120-day ban on agricultural burning has been in effect in the state of Amazonas since September 9. www.halternerzeitung.de · www.klamm.de · www.upday.com · www.watson.ch
- [● 5 SOURCES] Manaus reached a record temperature of 38.6 degrees Celsius on Tuesday, September 22, 2026. www.halternerzeitung.de · www.klamm.de · www.upday.com · www.watson.ch
- [● 4 SOURCES] The Manaus municipal health authority, Semsa, has classified the local air quality as very poor due to smoke. www.halternerzeitung.de · www.klamm.de · www.upday.com · www.watson.ch
- [○ 1 SOURCE] River levels are dropping significantly, with the Rio Negro at the Manaus port reaching 21.26 meters, over three meters below last year. www.upday.com
- [● 4 SOURCES] Nearly all the fires in the region are caused by human activity, including land clearing and discarded cigarettes. www.halternerzeitung.de · www.klamm.de · www.upday.com · www.watson.ch
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Inpe recorded 2,384 heat foci in Amazonas between September 1 and 19, 2026.
- [● 2 SOURCES] The study projects a 44% increase in the number of extremely hot days. diariodevotuporanga.com.br · portalbnu.com.br
- [● 2 SOURCES] Researchers estimate 451,000 heat-related deaths globally during the first nine months of the phenomenon. diariodevotuporanga.com.br · portalbnu.com.br
- [● 3 SOURCES] The Super El Niño phenomenon could cause 13,300 heat-related deaths in Brazil. diariodevotuporanga.com.br · portalbnu.com.br · portalprojeta.com.br