Wildfires have been wreaking havoc in a national park in Brazil, blanketing the capital city of Brasilia in smoke. Over 490 firefighters are tirelessly battling the flames that have already consumed 2,000 hectares of the Brasilia National Park due to a historic drought.
The blaze, ignited by human activity, has spread rapidly across four main fronts in the eastern region of the park. Three aircraft and a helicopter are being used to douse the flames and monitor the affected areas, according to ICMBio.
As columns of black smoke veiled Brasilia, the country’s iconic landmarks have been shrouded in smoke for weeks, as fires ravage the Amazon rainforest, Cerrado savanna, and Pantanal wetlands. Air quality has significantly deteriorated due to the uncontrolled fires.
The severe drought, affecting 59% of the country, has prompted a Supreme Court justice to authorize additional funds for firefighting efforts. Scientists attribute these extreme weather events, including wildfires and floods, to climate change.