Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro has accused non-governmental organisations (NGO), without citing evidence, of burning down the Amazon rainforest to hurt his government.
It comes as a growing global outcry against the wildfires raged on social media, with #PrayforAmazonas trending on Twitter.
According to the official stats, nearly 73,000 fires were recorded between January and August, compared with 39,759 in all of 2018.
Several experts have blamed traditional farming methods and the current political rhetoric for it.
"Increased deforestation and burning are the result of his anti-environmental policy." said Marcio Astrini, Greenpeace Brazil's public policy coordinator.
Iran sends missiles into Israel, dismisses Trump's talk of negotiations as 'fake news'
Iran denies talks with US after Trump postpones strikes on power grid
Israeli minister calls for annexation of southern Lebanon
Kim Jong Un says North Korea’s nuclear status is irreversible, threatens South
Japan to start releasing oil from joint stockpiles by end-March, PM says
Death toll nearly doubles to 66 in Colombian military plane crash
Seven overhead power lines out of service due to falling debris in Kuwait
Airstrikes on Iraqi site kill 10 fighters including commander
