Hundreds of new fires flare up in Amazon forests

Hundreds of new fires have flared up in the Amazon in Brazil yesterday, even as military aircraft dumped water over hard-hit areas and G-7 nations pledged to help combat the blazes. 

Smoke choked Port Velho city as fires raged in the northwestern state of Rondonia where fire-fighting efforts are concentrated, amid a growing global uproar and a diplomatic spat between France and Brazil.

Two C-130 Hercules aircrafts carrying thousands of liters of water yesterday began dousing fires devouring chunks of the world's largest rain-forest, which is seen as crucial to keeping climate change in check. Experts say increased land clearing during



the months-long dry season to make way for crops or grazing has aggravated the problem this year. 

Brazil has rejected aid from G-7 countries to fight wild fires in the Amazon. A top official told French President Emmanuel Macron to take care of his home and colonies. 

Chief of Staff to President Jair Bolsonaro, Onyx Lorenzoni, told a news website yesterday that Brazilian Government appreciates the offer, but those resources are probably more relevant to reforest Europe, referring to a pledge of 20 million dollars made at the G-7 Summit in France to fight the rainforest blazes.