“I don’t know where the fish went”: Rose is scared by the worst drought in the last 60 years in the Amazon
Rose hadn’t heard from her for over a year. Farmer, fisherman, gold miner, 38 years old, three children – Ronny, Raissa and Ruan, the oldest is 20 years old and the youngest, 17. The family lives in the community of Bom Serra, in the district of São Carlos, state of Rondónia. No matter how many indications are given, it is difficult to imagine the distance that separates them from Lisbon. In kilometers there are more than eight thousand; in hours it is difficult to say, because it takes at least two flights, and then a bumpy car journey along a dirt road. But never like in recent months has that population felt so isolated.
After almost 100 days without rain, they lost the company of the river, the fish and now it is the fruit of the agricultural activity that sustains them that is starting to disappear.
“I don’t know where the fish went”, whispers Rose, in the message she leaves on the Expresso journalist’s cell phone. A year ago, the woman from the Amazon helped to carry out a great report on mining in the Madeira River. Chastened by increasing difficulties, she now decided that she had to ask for help to publicize the precarious situation experienced by the community of Bom Seria following the most serious drought in more than half a century.
