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Amazon region faces extreme heat and wildfire crisis
The Amazon region is facing a severe environmental crisis characterized by extreme heat, drought, and widespread wildfires. In Manaus, temperatures reached a yearly high of 38.6°C on September 22, 2026. This heatwave, combined with low humidity, has been exacerbated by the El Niño phenomenon.
Air quality in Manaus has deteriorated significantly due to smoke from regional fires. In the city's Industrial District I, fine particle concentrations (MP2.5) reached 188.5 µg/m³, exceeding the threshold for poor air quality. Local health authorities (Semsa) have issued warnings to vulnerable groups, including children, the elderly, and pregnant women, to limit outdoor exposure.
Wildfire activity has surged, with registered fires in the region increasing by more than 300% in September compared to the previous year. In response, a 120-day ban on agricultural burning has been in effect in Amazonas since September 9. Meanwhile, in Palmas, Tocantins, authorities have issued alerts for critically low humidity levels below 20% and high temperatures, prompting measures such as reduced working hours for urban cleaning staff to mitigate heat exposure.
Entities
Amazonas · Defesa Civil Municipal de Palmas · El Niño · INMET · INPE · Instituto Nacional de Meteorologia · Manaus · Palmas · Semsa · Tocantins
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 7 SOURCES] The extreme weather conditions and drought are attributed to the El Niño phenomenon. www.dattelner-morgenpost.de · diaadianoticia.com.br · www.zeit.de · www.waltroper-zeitung.de · www.muensterlandzeitung.de · +2 more
- [● 2 SOURCES] Heat foci in Amazonas increased by 282.1% in the first 19 days of September 2026 compared to the same period in 2025. portalprojeta.com.br · marioadolfo.com
- [● 4 SOURCES] The average concentration of fine particles (MP2.5) in Manaus reached 188.5 µg/m³, classifying air quality as ‘very poor’. oglobo.globo.com · www.brasilemfolhas.com.br · portalamazonia.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] Inmet issued alerts for low humidity levels reaching 20% in Palmas. ocoletivo.com.br · atitudeto.com.br
- [● 14 SOURCES] Manaus recorded a temperature of 38.6°C on Tuesday, September 22, 2026. diaadianoticia.com.br · diariodoestadogo.com.br · portalamazonia.com · www.brasilemfolhas.com.br · www.zeit.de · +9 more
- [● 9 SOURCES] The number of registered fires in the region increased by more than 300% in September compared to the previous year. www.dattelner-morgenpost.de · www.bbv-net.de · www.zeit.de · www.waltroper-zeitung.de · www.dorstenerzeitung.de · +4 more
- [● 9 SOURCES] The municipal health authority Semsa classified the air quality in Manaus as very bad. www.zeit.de · www.waltroper-zeitung.de · www.muensterlandzeitung.de · www.recklinghaeuser-zeitung.de · www.ruhrnachrichten.de · +4 more
- [● 6 SOURCES] The number of registered fires in the region increased by more than 300 percent in September compared to the previous year. www.zeit.de · www.waltroper-zeitung.de · www.muensterlandzeitung.de · www.recklinghaeuser-zeitung.de · www.ruhrnachrichten.de · +1 more
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Particle concentration in Manaus's Industrial District I reached 188.5 µg/m³, exceeding the 'bad' threshold of 160 µg/m³. www.brasilemfolhas.com.br
- [● 6 SOURCES] Manaus reached a yearly high temperature of 38.6 degrees Celsius on Tuesday. www.zeit.de · www.waltroper-zeitung.de · www.muensterlandzeitung.de · www.recklinghaeuser-zeitung.de · www.ruhrnachrichten.de · +1 more
- [● 9 SOURCES] The Ministry of Health attributes the current weather conditions to the El Niño phenomenon. www.zeit.de · www.waltroper-zeitung.de · www.muensterlandzeitung.de · www.recklinghaeuser-zeitung.de · www.ruhrnachrichten.de · +4 more
- [● 9 SOURCES] A 120-day ban on targeted agricultural burning has been in effect in Amazonas since September 9. www.zeit.de · www.waltroper-zeitung.de · www.muensterlandzeitung.de · www.recklinghaeuser-zeitung.de · www.ruhrnachrichten.de · +4 more