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In Bolivia, the area of ​​Santa Cruz is ravaged by flames, about 500 000 hectares went up in smoke. AFP Photos / Santa Cruz Province Government / HO

The Amazon rainforest burns in Brazil. On the other side of the border in Bolivia, as much as half a million hectares have disappeared in recent weeks. An inestimable loss for the country's exceptional flora and fauna, struggling to control the flames.

With our correspondent in Bolivia, Alice Campaignolle

These are three fires that have revived in recent hours in the region of Santa Cruz (east) near the border with Paraguay. While President Evo Morales said a few days ago that the fires were under control, the strong winds of the season sent the flames back.

If hundreds of soldiers and volunteers are on hand to help put out the fires, that's not enough and the government, after creating an environmental emergency cabinet, announced the arrival of a Boeing 747 Super Tanker who can, perhaps, manage the disaster from the sky.

For the moment, 500 000 hectares of forest have gone up in smoke, the equivalent of twice the island of Réunion. These fires are due to the " eacho ", slash and burn, used to clean and fertilize land intended for agriculture and livestock. A very controversial and uncontrollable technique, but one that does not seem to be condemned by President Evo Morales, who said " but if we do not burn, how are we going to cultivate? "

►Also read: #PrayforAmazonas: Brazilians between nausea and anger at fires

►Also read: Brazil: Forest fires up 83% from 2018