The Amazon River, which flows in the southeast of Colombia, on the border with Peru and Brazil, has seen its level drop by 90% in the last three months due to drought, the government announced on Thursday, September 26. “The water level has decreased by 80 to 90% in the last three months, due to the drought caused by climate change in the country,” said the National Disaster Risk Management Unit (UNGRD).
According to the UNGRD, “the low level of the Amazon River affects the food supply and navigability of indigenous communities in the department” of the same name in Colombia. At least 7,400 people are affected by this drop in water levels, in a region where indigenous local communities travel mainly by boat.
A prolonged drought in South America
South America is experiencing a prolonged drought this year associated with the El Niño climate phenomenon, which has led to water and electricity rationing, as well as historic forest fires in several countries. Fires are currently active in Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, Brazil and Bolivia. The Colombian capital Bogota is also subject to water rationing due to low reserves in the surrounding mountains.
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