Amazon fires: Brazilian rainforest burning at record rate, space agency warns
7 minutes ago
REUTERS
Inpe said it had detected more than 72,000 fires so far this year
Brazil's Amazon rainforest has seen a record number of fires this year, according to new data from the country's space research agency.
The National Institute for Space Research (Inpe) said its satellite data showed an 83% increase on the same period in 2018.
It comes weeks after President Jair Bolsonaro fired the head of the agency amid rows over its deforestation data.
Smoke from the fires caused a blackout in the city of Sao Paulo on Monday.
The daytime blackout, which lasted for about an hour during, came after strong winds brought in smoke from forest fires burning in the states of Amazonas and Rondonia, more than 2,700km (1,700 miles) away.
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By Kris Bramwell
BBC News
7 hours ago
JEFF NASCIMENTO
Darkness descends on Sao Paulo at 16:00 (20:00 GMT) due to smoke from forest fires
A daytime blackout in a Brazilian city has prompted thousands of people to voice their concerns for the welfare of the Amazon rainforest.
Sao Paulo was blackened for around an hour on Monday after strong winds brought in smoke from forest fires burning in the states of Amazonas and Rondonia, more than 2,700km away.The hashtag #prayforamazonia has now emerged as a global Twitter trend with more than 150,000 references to the fires.
Sao Paulo resident Gianvitor Dias told the BBC what it was like in the city during the smoke-filled blackout on Monday afternoon.
"It was as if the day had turned into night," he said. "Everyone here commented, because even on rainy days it doesn't usually get that dark. It was very impressive."
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