A series of record-breaking wildfires are currently burning in several regions in Brazil, threatening residents and some of the most important ecological systems.

Brazil is enduring its worst drought since nationwide measurements began over seven decades ago, with 59% of the country under stress — an area roughly half the size of the U.S.

The flames of tens of thousands of fires have torn over millions of acres this summer, making this year the worst for Amazon fires in nearly a decade, according to Rainforest Foundation US. A staggering 7.4 million acres burned within the first half of this year, a 122 percent increase over last year, the nonprofit said.

Brazil is fighting wildfires that have cast smoke across swaths of its territory, fuelled by heatwaves and the nation’s worst drought on record. The area of the Amazon in Brazil, home to about two-thirds of the world’s largest rainforest,

BRASILIA, Sept 15 (Reuters) - Brazil’s Supreme Court on Sunday authorized the government to exempt spending on wildfires and droughts in the Amazon and Pantanal regions from this year’s fiscal target as the country grapples with the economic impacts of its worst drought on record.

By Shanna Hanbury The Amazon Rainforest’s main rivers are drying out due to an unprecedented drought exacerbated by climate change. Levels have continued to drop since Mongabay’s Sept 9. feature by Fernanda Wenzel.