Bolivian Amazon Ablaze
8/20/99
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Title: Bolivian Amazon Ablaze
Source: Environment News Service
Status: Copyright 1999, contact source for permission to reprint
Date: August 20, 1999
LA PAZ, Bolivia, August 20, 1999 (ENS) - Bolivia has asked for
international help to extinguish fires which have left at least three
people dead and an estimated 20,000 injured, Bolivian authorities
said. The fires started apparently due to slash-and-burn activities, a
common traditional practice, and were fueled by strong winds.
Defense Minister Jorge Crespo said Wednesday that firefighters,
together with the civil defense, the navy and the air force, have not
been able to control the fires, which broke out five days ago, in the
Amazonian provinces of Guarayos and Moxos.
So far, some 100,000 hectares have been reported as directly affected
within a 400,000 hectares influence zone. The fire quickly expanded
through the forest of Guarayos province. The fire has devastated the
settlements of Ascensi›n de Guarayos, located 300 kilometres north of
the city of Santa Cruz and 867 kilometres from the capital city of La
Paz.
Another massive fire was reported in San Ignacio de Moxos, located 150
kilometres west of Trinidad city.
The districts of Santa Cruz and Beni have now been declared in a state
of emergency and flights over the region suspended.
Even though the strong winds that initially fueled the fires have
weakened, slash-and-burn activities apparently have continued and
flames are not yet under control. Thus, so far 18 fires have been
extinguished in the eastern part of Guarayos and one is not yet under
control in Salvatierra, 60 kilometres from Guarayos.
Bolivian authorities said fire has already destroyed hundreds of
buildings and farms.