The river port in Manaus, the largest city in Brazil's Amazon rainforest, has hit its lowest water level since records began in 1902. On Friday, the Port of Manaus measured the Rio Negro river's water level at 12.66 meters, surpassing the previous all-time low recorded last year.
This unprecedented drop is a result of a severe drought that is draining waterways and disrupting the transport of grain exports and essential supplies—critical lifelines for the region. The Rio Negro, the largest left tributary of the Amazon River, is a vital artery for commerce and daily life in the area.
\"This is now the most severe drought in over 120 years of measurement at the Port of Manaus,\" said Valmir Mendonça, the port's head of operations. He predicted that the water level is likely to continue falling for another week or two.
Below-average rainfall, even during the rainy season, has plagued the Amazon and much of South America since last year. This has also fueled the worst wildfires in more than a decade in Brazil and Bolivia. Researchers attribute these extreme conditions primarily to climate change.
Scientists predict that the Amazon region may not fully recover moisture levels until 2026. Last year's drought escalated into a humanitarian crisis, leaving river-dependent communities stranded without food, water, or medicine.
This year, authorities are already on high alert. In the hard-hit Amazonas state, at least 62 municipalities are under a state of emergency, with more than half a million people affected, according to the state's civil defense corps. The region's failure to recover due to weaker-than-usual seasonal rains suggests that the impacts from last year's drought are set to repeat or reach new extremes.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
