Colombia’s stretch of the Amazon River is experiencing a drastic reduction in water levels, with reports indicating a decrease of up to 90 percent over the last three months. The Colombian government agency, National Unit for Disaster Risk Management (UNGRD), made the announcement on Thursday, highlighting the severe impacts of an unprecedented drought sweeping across South America.
“The water level has decreased between 80 and 90 percent in the last three months due to drought caused by climate change,” the UNGRD stated. This significant drop has profoundly affected Indigenous communities who rely on the river for sustenance and transportation.
The Amazon River, renowned as the world’s largest by volume, meanders through Brazil, Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, Venezuela, Guyana, French Guiana, and Suriname. The ongoing drought has not only led to diminished water levels but has also exacerbated wildfires across the continent.
In Leticia, the capital of Colombia’s Amazonas department, boats lie stranded as vast stretches of the riverbed are exposed. The sight of grounded vessels and parched lands underscores the severity of the situation and the pressing need for attention to climate-related challenges.
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Amazon's levels in Colombia down by as much as 90%, report finds
cgtn.com
