Brazil's Bolsonaro calls Amazon wildfires a 'lie'

Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro has denied the existence of fires in the Amazon rainforest, calling it a "lie," despite data produced by his own government showing that thousands of fires are surging across the region.The president's comments come even as Reuters witnesses in the remote Amazon town of Apui observed smoke blanketing the horizon in all directions during the day and large fires setting the sky aglow at night.

More than 10,000 fires have been recorded in the first 10 days of August, up 17% from the same period a year ago, according to data from the country's national space research agency INPE. "This story that the Amazon is going up in flames is a lie and we must combat it with true numbers," he said. In his speech, Mr Bolsonaro argued that Brazil has shown itself capable of protecting the Amazon because the majority of the forest is still standing.The media and foreign governments are presenting a false narrative about the Amazon, he said.

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