The forest fires recorded in Brazil in the first nine months of 2024, the largest for the period in the last 14 years, directly affected 18.9 million people, according to a report released today by the National Confederation of Municipalities (CNM).
According to the report, which includes data sent to the CNM by all municipalities in the country, the fires have so far caused losses of two billion reais (around 331 million euros).
According to the Confederation, which clarified that the information is still partial and periodically updated by the municipalities, the number of municipalities that declared an emergency situation due to the fires rose from 43 in the first nine months of 2023 to 684 between January and September of this year.
The CNM said it had received information that five people died and another 10,700 had to leave their homes this year because of the fires, but clarified that this number could be much higher because most municipalities have not yet sent data on all evacuated cities .
Those directly affected include those who were affected by the smoke that spread across the country, those who sought medical attention and those who suffered from the interruption of essential services.
According to the National Institute for Space Research (INPE), which uses satellite images to count daily hot spots across Brazil, the number of fires in the first nine months of the year increased by 85%, from 114,796 in 2023 to 213,413 in 2024, the highest number for the period under analysis since 2010.
The Ministry of the Environment attributes the significant jump in the number to the intense heat wave that the country is facing, climate change and the historic drought throughout Brazil, the longest in the last 50 years.
According to the Ministry, 58% of the Brazilian territory faces the effects of intense drought and 20% suffers from extreme drought.
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