High & dry

'More smoke'

The prolonged drought is also impacting economic activities in Paraizinho, mainly fishing and the sale of agricultural products.

"The beach has grown a lot," Ferreira said. Before, drought would last "only two or three months" but "now we are going for four, five months".

Communities along the banks of the Madeira River — an important route for the trade of soybeans, fish and fuel — are struggling. Some areas which also rely on Humaita have it worse than Paraizinho, residents of the village said, as they are even farther away. Intense fires elsewhere in the Amazon have also brought a haze of smoke to the village and surrounding area.