Manaus - The rivers Rio Negro and Solimões are rising slowly again after they had fallen on October 24th to the lowest level ever recorded in 1902. With a level of 13.63 meters the Rio Negro was even under the previous negative record of 13.64 meters in 1963. The fact that the Rio Negro reached today a water level of 14.06 meters at Manaus and other rivers are rising in the vicinity of the most affected regions of the cities of Tabatinga, Careiro daVárzea, Parintins, Itaupeua and Coari, seems to indicate the end of the worst drought in the Amazon's history, but it still can't be announced for sure in conformity with the Geological Survey of Brazil (CPRM). According to Civil Defence, 40 municipalities, where more than 62,000 families were or partly still are cut off from the outside world, declared a state of emergency. Alert continues.
A total of 115 regions are monitored by the CPRM in the state of Amazonas, of which 20 are located next to major river beds. The measurements at remote locations are made weekly since 2006, by specially trained, so-called hydrographic observers and the values are given by telephone to Manaus, while the process is already automated in other regions.