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Brazil wildfires: Blaze advances across Pantanal wetlands
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-50257684Brazil wildfires: Blaze advances across Pantanal wetlands
8 hours ago
A 50 kilometre-long (31 mile) wildfire is advancing across Brazil's Pantanal wetlands.
The governor's office in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul said the fire was "bigger than anything seen before" in the region.
At least 50,000 hectares of vegetation have already been destroyed.
The area, located in the southern part of the country, is one of the most biodiverse regions in the world and a popular tourist destination.
The fire began on 25 October and is said to be advancing rapidly due to the combination of high temperatures and high winds.
The governor's office said in a statement that the situation was "critical". It also warned that visibility in the area is poor.
The governor has announced a 30-day moratorium on using fire for land clearance.
Firefighters are also using planes to tackle the fire from above.
(snip)