Civil Defense of Amapá talks about the situation in municipalities affected by river floods The Civil Defense of Amapá predicts a critical period of drought in the second half of 2026. The phenomenon should be more intense than in previous years, with a risk of severe droughts and forest fires in several regions of the State. The warning adds to the forecast from the World Meteorological Organization (UN), which points to extreme effects of El Niño until August. The phenomenon occurs when the waters of the Pacific warm up and release more moisture, disrupting the climate in different parts of the world (understand below). ✅ Click here to follow the g1 AP channel on WhatsApp In Amapá, municipalities suffer from drought every year. In Tartarugalzinho, for example, drought and fires led to the declaration of emergency for three years in a row. According to the Secretary of Civil Defense, Frederico Medeiros, the State is coming out of a period of heavy rain and is now turning its attention to the second semester. Ferreira Gomes and Tartarugalzinho declared an emergency due to floods that affected more than 200 families, totaling more than a thousand people. "The situation continues to require attention, however the scenario is much calmer. We have already had a significant reduction in river levels and flow, so we understand that, in relation to floods, we should no longer suffer during this period. Now we continue with our attention focused on the drought, due to the harbinger of a super El Niño this year. Civil Defense is paying attention because its effects, here in our region, mean drought that can bring forest fires and water shortages", he explained. Tartarugalzinho riverbed in 2025 Tartarugalzinho City Hall/Disclosure Read more on the subject: Six municipalities in Amapá are on alert after heavy rains, says Civil Defense Flood of the Araguari River hits communities and ICMBio headquarters in Amapá After flooding, river levels are expected to drop in the next few days in Amapá, says Civil Defense Rain monitoring continues until July, with special attention to Macapá and Santana. In these cities, strong showers cause frequent flooding. "The climate is unstable and intense rains occur even on sunny days. Drainage problems worsen flooding, which is why we continue to monitor and carry out inspections in the field", explained the secretary. Flood in Tartarugalzinho in Amapá Reproduction El Niño 2026 The head of the World Meteorological Organization stated that the 2026 El Niño will be “at least moderate, possibly strong”. The last episode, in 2024, contributed to the hottest year on record. The phenomenon warms the waters of the Pacific and changes the climate in several parts of the world, causing intense rains in some regions and drought in others. Among the risks are heat-related illnesses, such as dengue fever and malaria, as well as pressure on water and food supplies. In Brazil, hydroelectric power generation may also be affected. The UN warns of fires in the Amazon, droughts in the Northeast and floods and landslides in the Southeast. The UN reinforced that the impacts of El Niño can affect climate, economy and security. The phenomenon is one of the few that can be predicted, which makes it essential to invest in warning and preparedness systems. Operation Amapá Verde works to combat forest fires Disclosure/CBM-AP See the latest news from g1 Amapá VIDEOS with news from Amapá: