Drought Hits Manaus River Port

By Bruno Kelly and Jake Spring

MANAUS, Brazil (Reuters) – The river port in the Amazon rainforest’s largest city, Manaus, reached its lowest water level since 1902 on Friday due to drought conditions, affecting the transport of grain exports and essential supplies vital for the region’s survival.

Underlying Causes

Below-average rainfall has afflicted the Amazon and much of South America since last year, contributing to severe wildfires in Brazil and Bolivia. Climate change is identified as the leading cause of these weather anomalies.

Scientists project that the Amazon may not regain its moisture levels until 2026.

Humanitarian Crisis

The drought escalated into a humanitarian crisis last year, stranding many dependent on river transport without food, water, or medicine. Currently, authorities are on high alert, with at least 62 municipalities in Amazonas state under states of emergency that affect over half a million people, as reported by the state’s civil defense corps.

Severity of the Drought

Valmir Mendonca, head of operations at the Port of Manaus, noted, “This is now the most severe drought in over 120 years of measurement.” The river level is anticipated to continue declining for another week or two. On Friday, the Port of Manaus recorded the Rio Negro river at 12.66 meters, surpassing last year’s all-time low.

The Rio Negro is a key tributary of the Amazon River, which is the largest river in the world by volume. Additionally, the combined body of water at the “meeting of the waters” where the Rio Negro meets the Solimoes has also registered a record low.

Due to low water levels, grain shipments on the Madeira River have been suspended, according to a port association.

Wildlife Impact

Experts are discovering carcasses of Amazon freshwater river dolphins, attributed to declining water levels forcing this threatened species into closer contact with humans. Cemaden, Brazil’s national disaster monitoring agency, labeled this drought as the worst in Brazil since the 1950s.

The drought is disrupting hydropower plants, Brazil’s primary electricity source. Authorities have approved the reintroduction of daylight savings time to conserve energy, pending presidential approval.

Regional Effects

This extreme weather pattern is not confined to Brazil and is affecting much of South America, with the Paraguay River also at an all-time low. The same conditions are exacerbating the fires in the Amazon and Pantanal, with Bolivia on track to break its previous records for fires, according to Brazil’s space research agency.