Images and videos of the fires in the Amazon rainforest have been shared widely online.
Brazil’s Amazon rainforest has seen a record number of fires this year, new space agency data suggests.
The National Institute for Space Research said its satellite data showed an 84% fire increase on the same period in 2018, and scientists warn it could strike a devastating blow to the fight against climate change.
According to BBC, the rainforest is home to roughly three million species of plants and animals, and one million indigenous people.
The fires have recently resulted in a blackout in Sao Paulo, which is about 1,700 miles away.
A video posted on The Independent’s Twitter account showed the extent of the damage being done to the rainforest, which you can see here:
Brazil’s Amazon rainforest is on fire pic.twitter.com/UzmN19KRKB
— The Independent (@Independent) August 21, 2019
Roughly half the size of America, it is the largest rainforest on the planet.
The Amazon is often referred to as the planet’s lungs, producing a total of 20% of the oxygen in the earth’s atmosphere.
This news comes just weeks after President Bolsonaro controversially sacked the head of the agency amid rows over its deforestation data.
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