٠٠:٠٣:١٥The severe lack of rain in the Amazon has caused a critical drop in water levels in the Peruvian part of the Amazon River, leaving boats stranded and putting the supply of food and fuel in Loreto at risk.
Footage filmed on Monday shows a dried-up Amazon, where the riverbanks are parched, and small and large boats are stuck and abandoned. Many large cargo ships are stranded on the shores, unable to proceed due to shallow water.
According to Jorge Kahn, a meteorological specialist at Senamhi Loreto and the National Meteorological and Hydrological Service of Peru, the water level is "just a few centimetres away from reaching critical historical alert levels, which we haven’t seen for 14 years."
"This situation not only has consequences for the low water levels but also significantly affects economic conditions," he added.
Kahn also noted that the main supply rivers to the Amazon, such as the Ucayali and the Maranpn, are at 'red hydrological alert levels,' posing great challenges to locals in terms of trading merchandise and navigating the river.
"At this time and in this 2024 season, which has been advancing and becoming more pronounced and with quite critical levels since the month of July and August" added Kahn, "This threat of low water or drought continues practically throughout our Loreto territory."
One of the locals, Frank Ramon Sanchez, said that the drought is leading to 'significant disruptions' in the transportation of goods, affecting the region's economy.
"It is affecting us economically. Because the transportation of goods has become increasingly challenging, leading to significant disruptions. Additionally, products often arrive damaged after prolonged transit times," he said.
Climate change was emphasised as the main factor contributing to the critical drought in the Amazon, with irregular rains and water deficits being the greatest issues. The decrease in water flow has caused fuel shortages, trade concerns, and insufficient product sources for locals near the basin.
Local officials predict that the situation might last until December, and the Amazon River could experience a historic dip in water levels by the end of September. Authorities are considering declaring a state of emergency to manage further consequences if the drought persists.
'It is affecting us economically' - Severe drought leaves Amazon at critical levels, disrupting river traffic, life in Peru's Loreto
The severe lack of rain in the Amazon has caused a critical drop in water levels in the Peruvian part of the Amazon River, leaving boats stranded and putting the supply of food and fuel in Loreto at risk.
Footage filmed on Monday shows a dried-up Amazon, where the riverbanks are parched, and small and large boats are stuck and abandoned. Many large cargo ships are stranded on the shores, unable to proceed due to shallow water.
According to Jorge Kahn, a meteorological specialist at Senamhi Loreto and the National Meteorological and Hydrological Service of Peru, the water level is "just a few centimetres away from reaching critical historical alert levels, which we haven’t seen for 14 years."
"This situation not only has consequences for the low water levels but also significantly affects economic conditions," he added.
Kahn also noted that the main supply rivers to the Amazon, such as the Ucayali and the Maranpn, are at 'red hydrological alert levels,' posing great challenges to locals in terms of trading merchandise and navigating the river.
"At this time and in this 2024 season, which has been advancing and becoming more pronounced and with quite critical levels since the month of July and August" added Kahn, "This threat of low water or drought continues practically throughout our Loreto territory."
One of the locals, Frank Ramon Sanchez, said that the drought is leading to 'significant disruptions' in the transportation of goods, affecting the region's economy.
"It is affecting us economically. Because the transportation of goods has become increasingly challenging, leading to significant disruptions. Additionally, products often arrive damaged after prolonged transit times," he said.
Climate change was emphasised as the main factor contributing to the critical drought in the Amazon, with irregular rains and water deficits being the greatest issues. The decrease in water flow has caused fuel shortages, trade concerns, and insufficient product sources for locals near the basin.
Local officials predict that the situation might last until December, and the Amazon River could experience a historic dip in water levels by the end of September. Authorities are considering declaring a state of emergency to manage further consequences if the drought persists.
The severe lack of rain in the Amazon has caused a critical drop in water levels in the Peruvian part of the Amazon River, leaving boats stranded and putting the supply of food and fuel in Loreto at risk.
Footage filmed on Monday shows a dried-up Amazon, where the riverbanks are parched, and small and large boats are stuck and abandoned. Many large cargo ships are stranded on the shores, unable to proceed due to shallow water.
According to Jorge Kahn, a meteorological specialist at Senamhi Loreto and the National Meteorological and Hydrological Service of Peru, the water level is "just a few centimetres away from reaching critical historical alert levels, which we haven’t seen for 14 years."
"This situation not only has consequences for the low water levels but also significantly affects economic conditions," he added.
Kahn also noted that the main supply rivers to the Amazon, such as the Ucayali and the Maranpn, are at 'red hydrological alert levels,' posing great challenges to locals in terms of trading merchandise and navigating the river.
"At this time and in this 2024 season, which has been advancing and becoming more pronounced and with quite critical levels since the month of July and August" added Kahn, "This threat of low water or drought continues practically throughout our Loreto territory."
One of the locals, Frank Ramon Sanchez, said that the drought is leading to 'significant disruptions' in the transportation of goods, affecting the region's economy.
"It is affecting us economically. Because the transportation of goods has become increasingly challenging, leading to significant disruptions. Additionally, products often arrive damaged after prolonged transit times," he said.
Climate change was emphasised as the main factor contributing to the critical drought in the Amazon, with irregular rains and water deficits being the greatest issues. The decrease in water flow has caused fuel shortages, trade concerns, and insufficient product sources for locals near the basin.
Local officials predict that the situation might last until December, and the Amazon River could experience a historic dip in water levels by the end of September. Authorities are considering declaring a state of emergency to manage further consequences if the drought persists.