Brazil’s Sao Paulo State Burns Amid Record Number of Wildfires
- Low humidity and above-average temperatures are to blame
- Raízen confirmed a sugar-cane field fire near Santa Elisa
An area of Amazon rainforest on fire in the municipality of Labrea, Brazil, on Aug. 20.
Photographer: Evaristo Sa/AFP/Getty ImagesThis article is for subscribers only.
The state of Sao Paulo, the wealthiest region of the largest economy in Latin America, is facing a record number of fires due to low humidity and a blistering heat wave.
INPE data compiled between Aug. 22-24 show Sao Paulo with 2,621 fires. Other regions have also been plagued by fire due to above-average temperatures of around 30C (86F) and dry, seasonal weather. Mato Grosso, in the central west, had 1,273 fires, while Para, in the north, logged 1,036.