A second four-engined turboprop Electra tanker aircraft arrived in Bolivia Monday to join the firefighting efforts against wild flames hitting various parts of the country, particularly Santa Cruz de la Sierra, where the Viru Viru International Airport was closed for hours due to poor visibility.
A study released by the Climate Observatory showed that the blazes from June to August this year emitted 31.5 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent into the atmosphere, which resulted in greenhouse gas emissions soaring 60% interannually, Agencia Brasil reported this weekend. The figure is close to the total emitted by Norway in one year (32.5 million tons), it was also explained.
At least 11 people have been arrested in the Argentine province of Córdoba for their alleged involvement in starting the current which elicited President Javier Milei's presence late Wednesday. Córdoba Security Minister Juan Pablo Quinteros has already admitted that fires, in 99% of the cases, are started by human hands.
Respiratory disease specialists are concerned about people suffering the effects of long-lasting forest fires in several parts of South America's largest country and insist children and the elderly need special attention, Agencia Brasil reported. Excessive smoke in the air coupled with a dry climate has caused discomfort to many, Brazilian Society of Pneumology and Physiology (SBPT) President Margareth Dalcolmo warned.
Paraguayan education authorities decided on Monday to cancel on-site classes in areas affected by heavy smoke and switch to virtual schooling in areas hit by forest fires such as Alto Paraguay and Boquerón.
A large cloud of smoke stemming from wildfires in Bolivia threatens to cover the skies of 15 Argentine provinces and even reach the Buenos Aires Metropolitan Area (AMBA) between Monday and Tuesday, due to which “phenomena that may represent inconveniences or difficulties in the normal development in social life are expected,” according to the National Meteorological Service (SMN).
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva Sunday held an emergency meeting with Environment Minister Marina Silva to discuss the crisis triggered by a large series of fires in the state of São Paulo and elsewhere believed to be the result of arson. Two suspects were arrested this weekend.
While wildfires in Argentina's Los Alerces National Park in the province of Chubut are far from being under control and the situation in Chile keeps getting worse by the hour, a new fire has been reported in the Nahuel Huapi National Park covering the skiing resort of Bariloche with smoke.
Persistently bad air quality over North America and worries about sparking more fires has led to the cancellation of some Canada Day firework displays. There were also concerns over air quality around next week's Fourth of July celebrations in the US.
Solar power generation in the northeast United States is tumbling by more than 50% as a result of the smoke from eastern Canada wildfires. On Thursday ISO New England, the operator of the grid, said solar power generation in New England was 56% below last week during times of peak demand.