Bolivia declared a national emergency because of the raging forest fires, the country’s defense ministry announced on Saturday. In a press conference, defense minister Edmundo Novillo stated that the national emergency would help the country quickly coordinate international support. Novillo said, “This will allow us to receive faster and more effective assistance from friendly countries and international cooperation.”
Bolivia has experienced the largest number of wildfires since 2010, with at least 3 million hectares (7.5 million acres) burned this year, according to Inpe, Brazil’s space research agency that monitors fires. South America is currently in its peak fire season, which typically spans August and September. The early fire season began in July following a drought, devastating the country.
Bolivia’s firefighting forces are overwhelmed, and the government has requested international aid. Indigenous volunteers attempted to protect their land used for crops and livestock near the Chiquitano forest north of Concepcion, extending towards Brazil and Paraguay, but some had to evacuate. Brazil has also faced significant fires in cities, and the Amazon rainforest is experiencing its worst start in two decades due to a record drought.
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