Sharp drop of Amazon River level affects livelihood of Colombians

A significant drop in the water levels of the Amazon River and its tributaries has seriously affected everyday life for Colombians, causing food shortages and even illness.  

The Colombian Amazon usually experiences short dry seasons from December to March and July to August.

This year, however, an unprecedented, ongoing drought has dried up the Amazon River and its tributaries, which run through a large swathe of the basin and nurture the livelihood of many indigenous communities in Colombia and other countries along the riverbanks.

At a tributary that flows across the Amazonas Department of southern Colombia, a large portion of the riverbed was exposed, and many boats were stranded.

"The Amazon River has lost 80 percent of its water flow. As can be seen from the surface of the river, the water level of the Amazon River has dropped by more than 12 meters," said Oscar Sanchez, governor of the Amazonas Department.

“This is the first time in history that we have had a drought like this. People have no fish to eat because the rivers have dried up. People are getting sick because they drink polluted water," said Edilberto Suarez Pinto, mayor of Puerto Narino, a port town. 

At the township, locals make a living by growing bananas, cassava, corn, and lemons. They travel by boat and mainly eat fish.

However, due to drought, local people's travel and agricultural irrigation have been seriously affected, and the reduction in rainfall has also forced many people to fetch water remotely. 

Many residents have also contracted hazardous infections by drinking water from the Amazon River, according to local medics.

"The water in the Amazon River has too much sediment and is undrinkable. Sediment causes an increase in fungi, bacteria, and viruses, and drinking it can cause gastroenteritis," said Lorena Jaramillo, a doctor at Puerto Narino Local Hospital. 

Sharp drop of Amazon River level affects livelihood of Colombians

Ballet "A Dream of the Red Mansion", an original production by the National Ballet of China, took the stage in Singapore this week, bringing one of China's most famous literary works to Singaporean audiences.

Performed at the Esplanade from Thursday to Sunday, the show was supported by the Chinese Embassy in Singapore and organized by the China Enterprises Association (Singapore). It follows a tour in Bangkok, Thailand, marking the troupe's second overseas stop.

The ballet tells the story of Jia Baoyu through the language of choreography, delving into his innermost emotions and weaving together iconic scenes from the classic novel by Chinese writer Cao Xueqin to depict the grandeur and decline of the Grand View Garden.

Chinese Ambassador Cao Zhongming said the ballet interprets classic literature from the contemporary perspective, and blends classical ballet vocabulary with Chinese choreographic aesthetics, showing that the Chinese culture is both historical and contemporary, belonging to the Chinese nation and to the whole world as well.

Chinese ballet "A Dream of the Red Mansion" debuts in Singapore