Bolivia, Paraguay and Brazil fight climate crisis due to fires: “The air is unhealthy”

There is an alert in the region due to serious forest fires. Bolivia remains in a state of national emergency, Paraguay has asked for help to control the flames, and Brazil is experiencing a difficult climatic situation marked by extreme heat and conflagrations.

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Forest fires in Bolivia have covered entire communities in thick smoke. Headaches, itchy eyes and difficulty breathing are some of the symptoms that thousands of residents have been suffering from for several days.

“Everything is burnt; the fire has consumed the protected area of ​​Cusi, which is 37 hectares,” said an affected Bolivian woman.

In Santa Cruz alone, which is the largest region in Bolivia, there are currently 74 active fires. Smoke from the Amazon and Chiquitanía is spreading and is already reaching cities like La Paz. The pollution is such that classes have been cancelled.

“We currently have an air quality index of 206. What does this mean? That the air is very dangerous for health,” said Aldo Villavicencio, a Bolivian doctor, speaking to Noticias Caracol en vivo.

The affected communities are looking for those responsible. “It is the cattle ranchers who sometimes cut down large areas of forest and set fire to expand their pastures,” said Wilber Melgar, a member of the Farmers Association.

In Paraguay, the fires in its own country and in neighbouring countries such as Bolivia are already making the air quality dangerous for health.

“We still have unhealthy air. It is recommended not to do physical activities,” said a citizen.

Brazil is also experiencing large fires that are aggravated by extreme heat and drought. This is a regional crisis that even affects Argentina with the arrival of smoke into its territory.

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