Get our news on your inbox! x

Remember me Forgot password

MercoPress, en Español

Montevideo, July 3rd 2025 - 03:36 UTC

Environment

  • Thursday, January 11th 2024 - 16:59 UTC

    Avian Influenza detected in mammals in Sub-Antarctica for the first time; DEFRA funds for FlluTrailMap

    HPAI was first suspected on Bird Island off the northwest coast of South Georgia in October 2023 after the deaths of several brown skua.

    The presence of High Pathogenicity Avian Influenza (HPAI) was confirmed on Thursday 11 January for the first time in mammals in sub-Antarctica. The disease was detected in elephant and fur seals on the island of South Georgia by experts from the UK’s world-leading Animal Plant Health Agency (APHA).

  • Wednesday, January 10th 2024 - 10:48 UTC

    One dead after heavy storm in Argentine beach resort of Miramar

    Buenos Aires Governor Kicillof offered Miramar's mayor the province's help

    An 18-year-old man was killed in the Argentine beach resort of Miramar in the province of Buenos Aires as a tree fell during a wind and hail storm that affected the city on Tuesday, it was reported. He was rushed to a hospital in nearby Mar del Plata for emergency surgery but did not survive.

  • Saturday, January 6th 2024 - 16:01 UTC

    Significant drop in Amazon deforestation reported in Brazil

    Lula has promoted environmental policies to halt the increasing destruction of the Amazon

    Deforestation alerts in the Amazon fell by 50% in 2023, according to a report from the Deter system released Friday by Brazil's National Space Research Institute (INPE), with data collected until Dec. 29 in an area of 5,152 km². It was the lowest rate since 2018, it also explained. In 2022, the alerts had registered 10,278 km² of deforested areas, the highest level ever.

  • Thursday, January 4th 2024 - 10:32 UTC

    Uruguay: Agriculture emergency lifted except for fruits and horticulture

    Fruit and horticulture were spared because of a cloudburst that caused damage to crops in November

    Uruguayan authorities Wednesday declared the end of the agricultural emergency adopted in October 2022 to address the water deficit the country was going through, it was reported in Montevideo. The measure was extended several times to support those producers most affected by the climate situation.

  • Tuesday, January 2nd 2024 - 10:46 UTC

    At least 30 killed in Japan tremor

    Although the tsunami alert was downgraded, people were advised to evacuate all coastal areas and not return there until further notice

    At least 30 people have been killed following a 7.6 magnitude earthquake in the Japanese Prefecture of Ishikawa. Around half the casualties were recorded in the town of Wajima, where a fire destroyed several houses. Japan Railways announced that high-speed trains between Tokyo and Ishikawa were interrupted.

  • Tuesday, January 2nd 2024 - 10:36 UTC

    Bolivia under orange alert as many rivers might overflow

    An orange alert “is declared when the upward trend of river levels and the persistence and intensity of rains indicate the possibility of overflowing rivers in the coming hours,” said Senamhi

    Bolivian authorities have enacted an orange alert after eight rivers were determined to be at imminent risk of overflowing, which would affect eight departments nationwide, the National Meteorology and Hydrology Service (Senamhi) reported. The measure will be in force until Jan. 7.

  • Tuesday, January 2nd 2024 - 10:05 UTC

    Milei traveling to Antarctica this week

    Milei has been criticized for his disregard of environmental issues

    Argentine President Javier Milei will be traveling to Antarctica this coming Friday, Jan. 5, alongside Ministers Diana Mondino (Foreign Affairs) and Luis Petri (Defense), it was reported in Buenos Aires. The head of state intends to launch a “pollution control,” according to Casa Rosada sources.

  • Saturday, December 30th 2023 - 09:00 UTC

    Chilean gov't extends agricultural emergency

    The measure “allows us to support the most affected sectors,” Minister Valenzuela explained

    Chile's Government Friday announced it was extending the agricultural emergency stemming from a water deficit due to poor rains, it was reported in Santiago. With this measure, authorities may keep up the aid to producers from Atacama to Magallanes until Sept. 30, 2024.

  • Saturday, December 30th 2023 - 07:04 UTC

    Octopus DNA helps to discover evolution of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet collapse

    Octopus, probably Pareledone species, from 500m depth on the Bellingshausen Sea continental shelf.Pic BAS.)

    Scientists, including from British Antarctic Survey, have used octopus DNA to discover that the West Antarctic Ice Sheet (WAIS) likely collapsed during the Last Interglacial period around 120,000 years ago – when the global temperatures were similar to today.

  • Wednesday, December 27th 2023 - 10:29 UTC

    Lowest rainfall in over 40 years affects Amazon basin rivers

    A study from the EU showed that a series of heat waves from August to November raised the temperature by a record high for this time of year

    A recent study from the European Union Science Center showed that rivers in the Amazon basin have been severely affected by historic poor rainfalls, Agencia Brasil reported. The region's biodiversity has also been hit by the meteorological conditions, particularly in the headwaters of the Solimões, Purus, Juruá, and Madeira rivers (Brazil's Amazonas state) and also in parts of Peruvian and Bolivian forests.