Historic Drought Hits Solimoes: Amazon's Lifeline at Risk

The Solimoes River in Brazil has hit record-low levels amid the worst drought on record, isolating villages without food, water, and transport. The river's depth near Manacapuru is at just 3 meters, and it is expected to drop further as the dry season continues. Environmentalists cite climate change as a contributing factor.

The Solimoes, one of the two largest tributaries of the Amazon River in Brazil, witnessed its lowest recorded level on Monday, plaguing the region with the worst drought on record. Local villages along its banks now face severe isolation, lacking essential supplies such as food, water, and transportation.

Measured at a depth of just 3 meters (9.8 feet) at Manacapuru, 100 kilometers (63 miles) upstream from Manaus where it meets the Rio Negro to form the mighty Amazon, the Civil Defense agency confirmed this figure breaks the previous record low by 11 centimeters (4.3 inches). The dry season is expected to persist for another month, exacerbating the crisis for riverine communities.

Environmentalists point to climate change as a major factor, with warming temperatures contributing to unprecedented droughts and wildfires. As a result, fishing, the main protein source for river communities and indigenous people, has drastically declined due to the disappearing fish population.

(With inputs from agencies.)