Rio de Janeiro, 26 August 2024 (dpa/MIA) — Severe fires are ravaging south-east Brazil, prompting the São Paulo state government to declare a state of emergency in 45 municipalities on Sunday.

Over 15,000 professional and volunteer firefighters, supported by military aircraft, are battling the flames, according to authorities.

Authorities said that two individuals had been arrested for arson.

The city of Ribeirão Preto, located some 300 kilometres north of São Paulo, has been significantly impacted by the fires. Local media reported that thick smoke spread across large parts of the region.

Data from Brazil's National Institute for Space Research (INPE), which uses satellite imagery, showed that 3,175 fires were recorded in the state of São Paulo between August 1 and 23.

The news agency Agência Brasil reported that this had been the highest number of fires in the month of August since 1998.

Brazil's Amazon region is also experiencing severe fires, affecting the country's Pantanal wetlands and the Cerrado savannah region.

Brazil's forest fire season runs from June to October. The fires are often set intentionally in deforested areas to create new pasture and arable land for growing crops like soy.