- Title: "Ashes to ashes:" Firefighters tackle fires in devastated Amazon
- Date: 26th August 2019
- Summary: RONDONIA, BRAZIL (AUGUST 25, 2019) (REUTERS) GENERAL OF CHARRED REMAINS OF RAINFOREST CHARRED REMAINS OF LOG DEAD BIRD NEXT TO TREE TRUNK CHARRED LEAVES ON TREE VARIOUS OF CHARRED TREE TRUNKS ASHES OF TREE LOG ASHES OF TREE VARIOUS OF TREE LOGS STILL BURNING BIRD FLYING IN SKY VARIOUS OF FIREMEN WORKING TO PUT OUT FIRES ROAD CUT THROUGH RAINFOREST FIREFIGHTERS LEAVING FIREFIGHTERS UNLOADING BACKPACKS WITH WATER VARIOUS OF FIREFIGHTERS FILLING UP BACKPACKS WITH WATER FIREMEN LOADING BACKPACKS ONTO TRUCK (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) LT. COLONEL PERES, SAYING: "We are working with a team in the state of Rondonia, most of those who came with me are from a rescue team. We will work here in an integrated way with the Brazilian army and with Ibama (environmental enforcement agency with federal and state bodies." VARIOUS OF TROOPS AND FIREMEN CHATTING VARIOUS OF FIREFIGHTERS PUTTING OUT FIRES FIREFIGHTERS HAVING LUNCH
- Embargoed: 9th September 2019 01:54
- Keywords: Firefighters Amazon troops wildfires rainforest
- Location: RONDONIA, BRAZIL
- City: RONDONIA, BRAZIL
- Country: Brazil
- Topics: Disaster/Accidents,Fires,Editors' Choice
- Reuters ID: LVA001ATPVAKN
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Tree trunk ashes are all that remain in this barren portion of the Amazon rainforest in Brazil's state of Rondonia. A dead bird lies next to a lifeless tree, a sombre scene which has angered the international community as a record number of fires in the Amazon rainforest intensified an unfolding environmental crisis.
Amid a global chorus of concern and condemnation, Brazil's right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro pledged in an address to the nation to mobilize the army to help combat the blazes, while his administration launched a diplomatic charm offensive to try to mend bridges overseas.
Forest fires in the Brazilian Amazon, which accounts for more than half of the world's largest rainforest, have surged in number by 83% this year, according to government data, destroying vast swathes of a vital bulwark against global climate change.
Environmentalists have warned that his controversial plans for more agriculture and mining in the region will speed up deforestation.
The Brazilian space agency INPE has registered 72,843 fires this year, the highest number since records began in 2013. More than 9,500 have been spotted by satellites over the past week.
Although fires are a regular and natural occurrence during the dry season at this time of year, environmentalists blamed the jump on farmers clearing land for pasture.
Farmers may have had at least tacit encouragement from the firebrand right-wing president, who took power in January.
Bolsonaro has repeatedly said he believes Brazil should open up the Amazon to business interests, allowing mining, agricultural and logging companies to exploit its natural resources.
(Production: Sebastian Rocandio) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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