‘Life Cannot Sustain Without Water’: Intensifying Drought in Brazil’s Amazon Raises Alarm for the Future

Inhabitants reliant on the Amazon’s intricate river systems find themselves bereft of essential supplies such as fuel, potable water, and food. Stranded river dolphins have been discovered dead along the riverbanks, and myriad deceased fish are seen floating on the water’s surface.

These horrifying scenarios are initial indicators of the extensive drought that is afflicting Brazil’s Amazon region. With water levels reaching historic lows, the situation is having a profound impact on hundreds of thousands of people and diverse wildlife species. Climatic experts are forecasting that the drought could persist until the beginning of 2024, exacerbating the already dire circumstances.

Raimundo Silva do Carmo, aged 67, who earns his livelihood as a fisherman, now finds it challenging merely to secure water. Like the majority of rural dwellers in the Amazon region of Brazil, do Carmo usually fetches untreated water from the abundant local waterways. However, on a recent Thursday morning, he made his fourth trip of the day to draw water from a makeshift well located in the parched bed of Lake Puraquequara, situated to the east of the capital city of Amazonas state, Manaus.

“The task is agonizing, especially under the scorching sun,” do Carmo stated to The Big Big News. “The water is vital for drinking, cooking, and bathing. Without it, life cannot be sustained.”

According to Joaquim Mendes da Silva, a 73-year-old ship carpenter who has resided beside the same lake for over four decades, the ongoing drought surpasses any he has previously witnessed. Children in the area ceased attending school a month prior due to the infeasibility of river travel.

Brazil’s disaster warning center, CEMADEN, reported that eight states in Brazil have experienced the lowest levels of rainfall from July to September in more than 40 years. The drought has severely impacted the major rivers in the Amazon basin—home to 20% of the Earth’s fresh water. As of the most recent data, 42 out of 62 municipalities in Amazonas have declared a state of emergency. Estimates from the state’s civil defense authority indicate that approximately 250,000 individuals have been adversely affected by the drought, a figure that may double by the end of the year.

In the Auati-Parana Extractive Reserve, situated about 450 miles to the west of Lake Puraquequara, over 300 river-dwelling families are grappling with securing basic supplies. Navigating through shallow waters has extended travel time from nine to 14 hours. Furthermore, pathways to the lakes, where they fish for pirarucu—Amazon’s largest fish and a primary income source—have dried up.

Two climatic phenomena—El Niño and the warming of the northern tropical Atlantic Ocean—are exacerbating the naturally occurring dry season in the Amazon, according to Ana Paula Cunha, a researcher with CEMADEN. These developments are occurring against the backdrop of global warming, which increases the probability of extreme weather events, although attributing specific events to climate change remains a complex endeavor requiring comprehensive studies.

Government authorities have instituted a task force to orchestrate a response to the unfolding crisis. Emergency relief efforts are being coordinated, but the situation underlines the necessity for enhanced coordination among federal, regional, and municipal governments. Advanced systems for disaster alert and preparedness to mitigate future impacts are needed, especially as extreme weather occurrences become increasingly frequent.

“From this point forward, things are likely to deteriorate,” cautioned Ane Alencar, the Science Director for the Amazon Environmental Research Institute.

This article includes contributions from AP reporters Fabiano Maisonnave in Brasilia, and Eléonore Hughes and Diane Jeantet in Rio de Janeiro.

Big Big News’ coverage of climate and environmental issues is supported by multiple private foundations. Responsibility for all content lies solely with AP.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Drought in Brazil’s Amazon

More about Drought in Brazil’s Amazon

• Brazil’s Amazon Drought: An In-depth Analysis
• CEMADEN: Brazil’s Disaster Warning Center
• Amazon Environmental Research Institute (IPAM)
• National Institute for Space Research: Climate Forecasts
• Bolsa Familia Welfare Program
• El Niño and Climate Change: Understanding the Connection
• National Institute of Amazonian Research: Wildfire Risks
• Geological Survey of Brazil: Madeira River Levels