Devastating forest fires rage in the popular holiday destination of Portugal and give residents and emergency services no respite. On Thursday, there were 11 major fires in various parts of the country, according to the Civil Defense (ANEPC). About 1,900 emergency services were on site to fight the flames. Fires are currently of particular concern in Aveiro in the north, in Leiria in the center and in Faro in the south of the country, as well as in Setúbal south of Lisbon.
“The whole country is on fire,” headlined the newspaper “Jornal de Notícias”. Prime Minister António Costa announced on Thursday that the third-highest state of emergency (“Estado de contingência”), which has been in effect throughout Portugal since Monday, will be extended until Sunday.
The declared state of emergency in Portugal also has consequences for tourists. So staying in forests is now only possible to a limited extent. In addition, no campfires or fireworks may be lit in, for example, the forest.
Heat and wind encourage intentional fires
A current heat wave caused temperatures to reach 45 degrees on Wednesday. In addition to a drought that has lasted for months, the spread is also partly promoted by strong winds, according to ANEPC. Some fires were also started deliberately, authorities confirmed. Arrests have already been made on suspicion of arson.
The preliminary balance of the most recent fires after just six days is frightening. At least 130 people were injured, two of them seriously. According to figures from nature conservation agency INCF, almost 100 square kilometers have been destroyed since Saturday. The flames destroyed homes, factories and a golf course.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
