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Fire of 2010 in Bolivia exceed 53,600, a record in the country

Authority Forests and Lands of Bolivia (ABT) announced today that the number of fires in this country so far in 2010 exceeded 53,600 last week, a record, and have already burned more than four million hectares. The director of ABT, Cliver Rocha, told Efe that while the first fires were caused deliberately by farmers and indigenous to clean stubble or increase its agricultural land, the most recent are also due to the "worst drought the past 30 years. "

According to Rocha, the previous worst year for fires was 2004, when it reached 53,000.

The area most affected 2010 is the east of Bolivia, especially the department of Santa Cruz, bordering Brazil and Paraguay, which has surpassed the 40,000 fires, and then northeast Pando and Beni.

At its worst, fire smoke filled the main Bolivian cities, causing the temporary suspension of operations at several airports.

ABT director expressed the hope that the imminent arrival of the rainy season to alleviate what he called "ecological catastrophe" of great magnitude, adding that Congress is considering tougher sanctions on those who set fire.

Bolivian President Evo Morales, as well as several officials of his government, described the last month of "natural phenomena" arson, and blamed climate change "acceleration and mass" of the fires. Chile, Brazil, Argentina and the United Nations have sent aid to Bolivia to help control insendios.

Source: EFE