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LiveScience
LiveScience
María de los Ángeles Orfila

Record-breaking fires engulf South America, bringing black rain, green rivers and toxic air to the continent

Drought Brazil Live Science Amazon Pollution United States
Aerial view shows a house destroyed by a fire in the surroundings of the SP-330 highway in Ribeirao Preto, Sao Paulo state, Brazil on August 25, 2024.

South America is experiencing record-breaking fires, which have led to "black rain," green rivers and hazardous air pollution almost 50 times higher than the level recommended by the World Health Organization, according to the air quality monitoring company IQair.

Between Jan. 1 and Sept. 16, the continent recorded 364,485 forest fires, surpassing the 2007 record of 345,322 fires, according to data from the Brazilian Space Research Institute and Reuters.

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