The fire consuming the Brasília National Park, which has left part of the Brazilian capital shrouded in smoke, continues to advance this Monday (September 16). The fire has burned 700 hectares of the environmental protection area, according to the environmental protection institute ICMBio. The Federal Police is investigating the origin of the fire.
A dense column of dark smoke can be seen rising from the park, also known as Água Mineral. With 146 days without rain this year in the Federal District, the hot and dry weather is hindering the work of the teams and facilitating the spread of the flames.
The last major fire in the Brasília National Park was recorded in 2022. At that time, the fire consumed 7,700 hectares — 20% of the area.
The Minister of the Environment and Climate Change, Marina Silva, stated that Brazil is experiencing climate terrorism, as people have been using the high temperatures and low humidity to set fires in the country, harming people’s health, biodiversity, and forests.
“There is a national ban on the use of fire, but there are those who are practicing true climate terrorism,” she said in an interview with media outlets on Saturday (September 14).
She emphasized that it is essential for all engaged public agents to continue acting, as these actions have a purpose. Only two states are not facing drought, the minister pointed out, also advocating for harsher penalties for those who commit this crime. Nowadays, the penalty ranges from one to four years in prison. The minister stated that 17 people have been arrested and 50 investigations opened so far.
Source: Agência Brasil