Portugal, which was largely spared from forest fires in the summer, is now being hit by a heat wave and dozens of fires. Civil Defense announced on Monday that 36 wildfires were raging across the country. Due to the increased risk of wildfires, the third-highest state of emergency has been in effect across the country since midnight.
According to various estimates, between 2,000 and 2,500 hectares of forest have been destroyed in the popular holiday destination in recent days. The risk of forest fires is favored by a drought that has lasted for weeks, which has dried up nature, and a heat wave with temperatures sometimes above 40 degrees, which started on Saturday and will last at least until Thursday.
About 1000 emergency services on site
The situation was worst on Monday in Ourém and Pombal in the center and in Ribeira da Pena in the north of the country. The three largest forest fires currently raging there, reports state television channel RTP. In total, about 1,000 members of the fire brigade, civil defense and police are deployed there.
Most (more than 700) in Ourém, where some houses and animals have already fallen victim to the flames. The EU sent two fire-fighting planes to Spain and Portugal deployed another 60.
Source: Krone
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