Rio Negro water levels drop significantly in Manaus amid Amazonas drought

The Rio Negro in Manaus has seen a significant drop in water levels, measuring 18.59 meters as of Thursday. This represents a decrease of 3.85 meters, or approximately 17.2%, compared to the same period last year. During the month of September, the river lost 5.21 meters of depth.

The ongoing drought has prompted the Amazonas Civil Defense to declare a state of emergency in 22 of the state's 62 municipalities. An additional 18 municipalities are on alert, and 13 are under attention, leaving only nine in normal condition. The receding waters are impacting riverine communities, hindering the transport of goods, and restricting access to basic services due to difficult navigation.

The Geological Service of Brazil (SGB) has noted that the El Niño phenomenon requires close monitoring of the drought in the North Region, specifically highlighting the Negro and Branco river basins as areas of high concern. While current levels remain higher than the historic lows recorded in 2024, the rapid decline in depth continues to pose risks to the region.