The Amazonas state government announced, on Monday (27), the implementation of Operation Flood 2022, which aims to combat the harmful effects of the typical flooding of Amazonian rivers at the beginning of the year.
The early announcement comes against a backdrop of concern about the current level of rivers, which already reach volumes greater than the historical average. Despite the normality of upriver events at this time of year, above-average flooding has become increasingly frequent.
In the Rio Negro flume, for example, which bathes Manaus, the water level is already 3 meters above what was recorded in the same period last year. It is possible that all municipalities in Amazonas suffer impacts from rising rivers, said Governor Wilson Lima (PSC) when presenting the project.
“I was, approximately 10, 15 days ago, in the Juruá and Purus channels and I noticed, together with the city halls and technicians, the rise of these rivers. We are already mobilizing our entire structure, all our secretaries. We are even meeting here to discuss integrated actions to help these municipalities and families that are affected by the rise of the rivers”, he said.
The plan, according to the government, defines measures to help approximately 130 thousand families in 62 municipalities that will possibly face damage caused by the rise of rivers in the region.
According to Patrícia Guimarães, meteorologist from the Civil Defense of Amazonas, extreme events have been “increasingly expressive” and also include the occurrence of the La Niña effect, a phenomenon that cools waters in the Pacific Ocean and impacts the production of moisture in the Amazon region .
“Lately, extreme events have been increasingly significant, both historic floods and droughts. As an example, we had this flood of 2021, and the condition for it to happen is identical to the one now”, he pointed out.
In addition, the occurrence of heavier rains in the region of the state has already generated impacts in at least 13 Amazonian municipalities, said the Civil Defense of Amazonas on Monday. Roofing, falling trees and power supply failures were recorded in Manaus and in the interior of the state.
Reference: CNN Brasil
