Deadly Wildfires Ravage Southern Sao Paulo State in Brazil

Wildfires in Brazil's southern Sao Paulo state have claimed at least two lives, with 36 cities on high alert. Over 7,300 workers and volunteers have been mobilized to control the fires. A combination of drought, heat waves, and strong winds is exacerbating the situation.

In a tragic turn of events, wildfires in Brazil's southern Sao Paulo state have resulted in the deaths of at least two individuals, as confirmed by officials on Saturday. A total of 36 cities in the state have been put on high alert as the fires continue to spread.

Sao Paulo Governor Tarcísio de Freitas announced that both local and federal authorities are intensifying their efforts to combat the flames. The fires have primarily affected regions outside the city of Sao Paulo, one of Latin America's largest urban areas, home to over 11 million people. De Freitas revealed that more than 7,300 government workers and volunteers have been deployed to contain and extinguish the fires. However, he cautioned that a combination of a heat wave, drought, and strong winds could further aggravate the blaze.

Despite the city of Sao Paulo largely escaping the direct impact of the fires, dramatic footage on social media shows smoke-filled skies and burning trees in rural areas along highways. Tragically, in the city of Urupes, two industrial plant workers lost their lives on Friday while attempting to combat the flames. Local news outlet Folha de S.Paulo reported that the region is experiencing its worst wildfire season in decades, with 4,973 fires recorded just this year.

(With inputs from agencies.)