Smoke from wildfires raging across Brazil’s Amazon rainforest is causing severe health issues for residents, leaving many coughing and struggling to breathe. Large areas of the country have been blanketed in smoke, affecting not only the Amazon but also the Cerrado savannah, Pantanal wetland, and the state of Sao Paulo.
In the Amazonian town of Labrea, 60-year-old farmer Fátima Silva describes the dire situation: “I am not well. I am feeling short of breath, my throat hurts, my eyes need eye drops. I can’t go out on the street; I can’t go anywhere because everything is white with smoke,” she said.
Silva’s family is also suffering. “My grandchildren, my children, everyone is getting sick. Today it got even worse. No one can stand it,” she added, noting that her grandchildren are coughing so much they can hardly sleep.
The pervasive smoke has raised concerns about the long-term health impacts on local communities, as well as the environmental consequences of the unchecked fires. Residents are calling for urgent action to address the crisis and provide relief to those affected.
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People in Brazil's Amazon are choking on smoke from wildfires
cgtn.com
