The Minister of Environment and Climate Change (MMA), Marina Silva (Rede), stated, this Monday (1st), that the government identified the origin of the fires in the Pantanal.
The fires are believed to have originated from 18 fires, most of them on private properties. She also associated most of the fires in the Corumbá region (MS) as a consequence of deforestation. The municipality is facing the most critical situation in the biome.
“The culprits will be charged. We already know where the fire spread from. The people have been identified, but the investigation process is ongoing,” said the minister.
The Federal Police (PF) is working with a task force on site to investigate human involvement in the fires.
Marina also announced the creation of two “interagency bases” that will provide logistical support for firefighters, in addition to being the planning point for fighting fires.
These equipments will operate with support from the Army and ministries. They will operate in the south of the municipality of Corumbá and on the Transpantaneira, a highway that crosses the biome between Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul.
At the moment, according to the government, there are 500 firefighters and soldiers participating in fighting the fires in the region.
Despite the promise of announcing more funds, the minister said that the ministries are conducting a survey to see how funds can be reallocated within the departments and whether it will be necessary to release extraordinary credit. According to Marina, the amounts have not yet been defined.
Back in June, the MMA sent a document to the Civil House with requests for budget adjustments to combat the flames.
On Monday (1), the minister spoke to journalists at the Planalto Palace, after a meeting of the situation room created to deal with the drought in the Pantanal region and the Amazon.
Marina also promised a stronger ministerial presence in the Pantanal during the crisis. Last Friday (28), a delegation from the federal government visited the site.
Source: CNN Brasil
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