Amazon Declares State of Emergency Due to River Drought

The Amazon region is facing a severe drought following a period of heavy rain and flooding, with river levels dropping drastically.

The Madeira River, among others, now has exposed sandbanks along its channel, prompting the government of Rondônia state to declare a state of emergency due to the critical dry conditions.

The Madeira River has reached its lowest recorded level, a situation mirrored by many other rivers in the Amazon region. Experts predict that this scenario is likely to recur or worsen this year.

According to Mexico's La Expansión newspaper, even as the El Niño phenomenon ends, drought and low rainfall persist in northern Brazil.

This situation is exacerbated by warmer-than-usual waters in the northern tropical Atlantic, which inhibit cloud formation and rainfall over the Amazon.

Due to the lack of rain, river levels in the area have dropped rapidly and significantly, even before the peak drought season, which typically occurs from September to November.

The newspaper reported that the drought and high temperatures have led to the death of 120 river dolphins in a tributary of the Amazon over the past week.

Researchers believe that the severe drop in river levels during the drought has caused water temperatures to rise to levels intolerable for the dolphins.

Climate change has triggered an unusual drought in the Amazon, drying up major rivers, sparking forest fires, and threatening the livelihoods of millions in the rainforest for the first time in 120 years.

Last year, the Amazon River, the largest in the world, and many of its tributaries reached their lowest levels in 120 years of records. This region accounts for one-fifth of the world’s freshwater flow.

The severe drought in the Amazon underscores the urgent need for climate action to protect this critical ecosystem and its inhabitants from the devastating impacts of climate change.