Jair Bolsonaro held a crisis meeting late Thursday with several of his ministers, as foreign pressure on his government increases to save the world's largest rainforest.

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, under strong international pressure, said on Friday he was considering sending the army to fight the uncontrolled fires in the Amazon. The president could take by decree in the morning this decision, for which he told reporters to "lean".

Wildfires on the rise

The rapidly spreading wildfires in the Amazon took on an international dimension on Thursday as the UN and French President Emmanuel Macron challenged Jair Bolsonaro as calls from all over the world rose to defend the "lungs of the planet".

On Friday, many demonstrations are expected to take place in front of Brazilian embassies and consulates around the world, as well as in Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, at the call of environmental conservation movements. In France, President Emmanuel Macron said Jair Bolsonaro had "lied" about his commitment to the environment and announced that Paris was opposed to the controversial free trade treaty EU-Mercosur, the presidency said.

According to the Brazilian institute INPE, 76,720 forest fires were recorded in the country from January to August 22, 85% more than in the same period last year. More than 52% concern the Amazon.