Wildfires in Southern Brazil Kill Two People

Brazil's southern Sao Paulo state is grappling with deadly wildfires that have claimed at least two lives, officials confirmed Saturday. Authorities placed 36 cities on high alert as local and federal efforts intensify to combat the flames, according to Sao Paulo state Gov. Tarcísio de Freitas.

The fires, fueled by a heat wave and drought, have unleashed havoc outside the city of Sao Paulo, one of the most populous cities in Latin America with over 11 million residents. A significant deployment of 7,300 government workers and volunteers is in place to "contain the advance and put out these fires," de Freitas announced. He also cautioned that strong winds could further exacerbate the situation, despite efforts.

Though Sao Paulo city remains largely unaffected, social media videos depict smoke-filled skies and flaming trees in rural areas. The town of Urupes reported two industrial plant employees died on Friday while combating the blaze. Local outlet Folha de S.Paulo cited this year's fires as among the worst seen in decades, recording a staggering 4,973 fires in the region. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)