São Paulo

A fire hit the Serra da Lua archaeological site in Monte Alegre State Park, Pará, on Saturday night (5). Officials gained control of the fire in the Serra da Lua region, but there were other outbreaks on Sunday (6).

The Pará State Institute of Forestry and Biodiversity manages the park and historical heritage center, which has an area of 58,251 hectares. The park is part of the Paytuna Environmental Protection Area, created in 2001. There are rock paintings that prove that the region was inhabited for at least 11,000 years.

Firefighters have been battling the fire since Saturday - Ideflor-Bio/Divulgação

The Pará government said the fire is moving slowly against the wind, facilitating the work of the brigade members. The total area reached is not yet known.

Pará is among the states that experienced fire outbreaks during the August fires. On August 10th, farmers in the southwest of the state announced a “fire day,” which culminated in a 300% increase in fires in the city of Novo Progresso and 743% in Altamira.

The outbreaks of fire in Pará and other states of the country drew the attention of other countries to the degradation of the Amazon. President Jair Bolsonaro reacted to the crisis by accusing NGOs of causing fires, discrediting data from government agencies, and rebelling criticism from European countries, suggesting that they were trying to take over the Amazon.

Translated by Kiratiana Freelon

Read the article in the original language