International
Amazon river levels fall due to lack of rain, hurting navigation
BRASILIA — Last year's record drought in the Amazon and less than usual rainfall since caused river water levels to drop rapidly, hindering navigation by barges carrying grains for export and cutting off communities that depend on river transport. T
The Brazilian Geological Service (SGB) has warned that water levels have been falling since June and all rivers in the Amazon basin are expected to drop below their historical levels.
In Manaus, the Rio Negro river is 21 metres deep, down from 24 metres at the same time in 2023, which is beginning to worry industries in the Free Trade Zone, where businesses have requested dredging work begin on the river to avoid last year's disruption of transport.
Dredging has started on critical points of the Madeira river where only low-draft vessels are able to pass, according to the government's department of transport infrastructure DNIT. Dredging work is being contracted for the major Amazon and Solimoes rivers, DNIT said.
Following last year's drought, barges were prevented from using some ports on the Amazon river, and the outlook for this year is even worse, said consultancy ARGUS.
