Manaus postpones international marathon due to smoke crisis

poor air quality

The 2023 Manaus International Marathon has been postponed until December

Manaus (AM) – As a result of the smoke that once again covered the capital of Amazonas, the mayor of Manaus, David Almeida, announced, on Wednesday afternoon (11), measures to guarantee the safety of the population, and the reinforcement of the actions already carried out by the City Hall from Manaus.

On the occasion, the head of the municipal Executive explained that the smoke originates in the municipalities of the Metropolitan Region of Manaus (RMM), according to data collected from the Queimadas program, of the National Institute for Space Research (Inpe).

“We are in this difficult moment suffering from this dense smoke that is over our city, produced in the interior of the state. Of the 6,992 fires captured by Inpe in September, 99.6% came from the interior. Our environmental awareness teams, from both the Environment and Agriculture Departments, have already implemented fire-free agriculture here in the city. Since June, we have been raising awareness among residents in the rural areas of our city about preservation,”

said the mayor.

As part of the measures, David Almeida announced the implementation of a family farming program without burning, following the successful example already carried out in Manaus.

“I am in contact with the president of the Association of Municipalities, and we are going to raise funds from the Amazon Fund so that, together with other municipalities in the metropolitan region, we can implement family farming without burning. We have been with ‘Manaus sem Fumaça’ since June, so we are doing our part, fulfilling our duty”,

completed.

Regarding tree planting, the mayor of Manaus announced that the Alameda dos Oitis will be inaugurated, with trees 1.5 to 2 meters high, as part of projects that aim to create corridors of green areas in Manaus, such as the Alameda dos Ipês.

More actions

The 2023 Manaus International Marathon, an event that was scheduled for October 15th, as part of the city’s anniversary celebrations, was postponed until December. According to the mayor, the measure is part of actions aimed at public safety.

“I recommend not practicing sports, you cannot breathe carbon monoxide, it causes problems. As a result, we are postponing our city’s marathon, which was scheduled for next weekend. It is also necessary to avoid being exposed to smoke, close the windows of the houses, hydration is essential at this time. Unfortunately, we are going through this, as a result of climate change”,

pointed out Almeida.

Furthermore, during the press conference, concern for the municipal education network and children was also mentioned, especially on days of heavy smoke that harm the city. David Almeida reported that plans are being finalized to ensure the necessary attention and care.

“We have awareness, our Department of Health has provided guidance through our doctors and the Municipal Department of Education has also passed this information on to our managers so that we can protect the health of our children”,

highlighted Almeida.

“Manaus Without Smoke”

Even with a low incidence of fires in the capital of Amazonas, the City of Manaus, through the Municipal Secretariat for the Environment and Sustainability (Semmas), continues to raise awareness about the risks and damages caused by urban fires, with the “Manaus No Smoke 2023″.

The guidelines are taken to strategic points in the city and in areas where Semmas receives the most complaints due to fires. The secretariat also informs that if the population registers any type of urban fire, they can report it via WhatsApp 92-98842-2161 or email: [email protected].

*With information from consultancy

Read more:

Smoke hides Teatro Amazonas and Manaus records “terrible” air quality; watch videos

Red alert: Toxic smoke dominates Manaus for the 2nd consecutive day

Smoke from fires leaves air in Manaus among the three worst in the world