Thick smoke from raging wildfires in Brazil's Amazon rainforest has turned skies eerily white, leaving residents coughing, rubbing burning eyes, and struggling to breathe. The crisis has spread across multiple ecosystems, including the Cerrado savannah and Pantanal wetlands, with even urban hubs like São Paulo feeling the haze.
\"My grandchildren can't sleep – they cough all night. My throat feels like fire,\" said Fátima Silva, 60, a farmer in Labrea, via voice message to The Associated Press (AP). Like many in the region, her family battles health issues as smoke smothers daily life. 🏡💔
Scientists warn this environmental emergency underscores the Amazon's fragile state. While wildfires occur seasonally, their intensity and reach this year have alarmed communities. Reddened eyes and makeshift face masks are now common sights, with locals comparing the air quality to \"living inside a bonfire.\" 🌫️😷
As the world's largest carbon sink coughs along with its people, questions grow about long-term solutions. For now, families stock up on eye drops and pray for rain. 🌧️🙏
