Drought can occur at any time and in the most unexpected place. In fact, as we recently explained, it never disappears completely. Take Spain, for example, which has had months above the average amount of water dammed in the last decade. Even in this way, we cannot say that we have reached an “agreement” with water. When we look at history, we see that one case sets an example for others.

Big Dry. Behind this name was a meteorological phenomenon that changed the perception of those living in regions seemingly out of reach of some natural phenomena. It occurred in northeastern Brazil in the late 19th century, but could have occurred anywhere. That year we experienced one of the most unique and powerful weather conditions we have ever known.

It turned out at that time that this phenomenon could not be attributed to climate change. That is, it was believed that the equation of events was random, or rather, caused by periodic and natural oscillations of the climate. The result: almost three years without rain, the deaths of nearly half a million people, and the largest and most devastating drought in Brazilian history.

ENSO. Imagine a surprising change in the functions of La Niña and El Niño. Today we call this phenomenon the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO), and it refers to fluctuations in ocean temperatures and atmospheric patterns in the tropical Pacific, including El Niño (warming of waters) and La Niña (cooling).

But in the case of the Brazilian drought, this event warmed the waters of the equatorial Pacific Ocean and altered atmospheric circulation in ways that caused an extreme lack of rain. Like? The onset of El Niño disrupted normal rainfall patterns in the northeast of the country, which already has a semi-arid climate and depends on seasonal rainfall. El Niño weakened the formation of monsoon rains and intensified dry conditions for several years in a row. A disaster.

The first deserts. In January 1877 (midsummer), Cearense noticed the first signs of trouble. Desperate letters from dates reflected the already desolate landscape: “The lack of rain is already felt. “From Sobral and other parts of the state they tell us that the drought has caused serious damage.” In another letter written in March, a man said: “We are suffering from a terrible drought… and God only knows how painful this scourge will be.” “The drought is destroying everything, the death rate of the cows is astounding,” another explains.

The situation did not improve as March and the late rainy season gave way to winter. One reporter from the municipality of Assaré feared the complete destruction of humanity in the surrounding countryside, while another lamented “the emaciated bodies of our young children, wives and parents.” A letter published a few days before Christmas ended in 1877 included a depressing note: “We are already in the middle of December and it is not raining! “The drought continues in all its horror and threatens to engulf everything.”

Effects. The Great Drought officially ended in 1878, but its effects lasted much longer. Drought crippled Northeastern sugar workers, who had seen their investments dwindle since the early 19th century. Cotton growers, whose businesses flourished during and after the American Civil War (1861-1865), also faced new adverse winds, while farmers calculated their losses in the hundreds of thousands of heads.

The deadliest drought in Brazilian history was worsened by an extraordinarily strong El Niño for two consecutive years, thus creating a brutal economic impact, depleting much-needed capital space and contributing to the region’s lackluster development. Because, above all, the victims and survivors of the drought needed work, especially in Ceará.

Exit. What happened then was a scene repeated in history. Without livestock or crops, millions of desperate Ceará residents migrated to the main population centers in hopes of finding work. Among immigrants’ limited options, Brazil’s thriving rubber industry was particularly attractive, both for its relatively high wages and geographic proximity. And the majority of all residential areas would be in the capital, Fortaleza.

Shocking images of emaciated men, women and children have become iconic in the country. Let’s imagine that drought was reflected in photographs for the first time in Brazil. Bottom line: Raise public opinion and warn about the seriousness of the events taking place in the northern provinces, as some Brazilians in the south think these are exaggerations. To give us an idea, the newspapers contained stories of women prostitution themselves for food and parents selling and even eating their own children.

Tire burst. Brazilian rubber production in the Amazon Valley, particularly in the states of Amazonas and Pará, did not begin until the late 18th century, after French explorer Charles Marie de La Condamine first observed indigenous people using a “milky, sticky liquid” from Hevea. Brazilian wood used to make boots, toys and bottles.

Exports of raw rubber and rubber products increased steadily until the early 19th century. The trade began in 1839 when Charles Goodyear discovered vulcanization, which made rubber resistant to extreme temperatures. But rubber remained largely unimportant in Brazil until its initial boom in the 1880s, when price increases and an influx of cheap labor increased the product’s export share to 10%.

However, there was a labor shortage and Grande Seca was a great opportunity for merchants.

Exploitation. The people of Ceará, made up of hundreds of thousands of desperate immigrants who ate whatever they found on the road and were “desperately needed” by the rubber industry, did not care much about working conditions and therefore accepted jobs as long as they were paid. Very few people dared to extract hevea from trees in a hot, disease-ridden tropical forest. In fact, during the great drought, Ceará became a base state for recruiters from Amazonas and Pará.

Flower. In an environment where sanitation and access to medical care were limited, the disease spread rapidly, partly due to poor health infrastructure and lack of vaccination of the population. The port of Fortaleza in the state of Ceará became the focus of the epidemic due to its role in trade and the movement of people due to drought, which facilitated the rapid spread of smallpox throughout the region.

Smallpox killed tens of thousands of people; many were already weakened by drought-induced famine. The death rate was particularly high among the most disadvantaged classes and rural communities, where access to medical resources was almost non-existent. Worse, the government response was limited, in part due to the lack of a coordinated national health strategy.

A change. The events of this period revealed the need for improvements in public health policies and living conditions, and this, although too late, later contributed to reforms in health management in the country. The 1878 pandemic left a deep mark on Brazilian history and reflected society’s vulnerability to the combination of health and climate crises. Of course, a warning to every nation.

Announcement to sailors. The Great Seca not only killed hundreds of thousands of northeasterners, but also caused a massive internal migration unprecedented at the time. This last event was particularly problematic for the state of Ceará, to which thousands of people emigrated. The people of Ceará, in turn, provided an invaluable source of cheap labor to the rubber “lords” of Amazonas and Pará.

At the beginning of the new century, in 1900, the country exported more rubber than any other product except coffee. Mass migration to the south of the country continued in the following years, fueling the urbanization and growth of cities such as São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.

El Niño, one way or another, has forever left its mark on Brazil’s history, showing modern societies that climatic events are ready to test any community, no matter how remote it may seem from a residential area.

Image | Bmleite1, Cândido Portinari, National Library

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