Forest fires continue to burn in Portugal and this SC also faced several outbreaks in the province of Aveiro (north), which this morning reached homes and caused traffic to come to a standstill on the main roads.
Around 1,600 firefighters have been mobilised to combat the almost 20 fires that are still active, while the National Civil Protection Service placed Portugal on “alert” from Saturday afternoon until Tuesday night due to high temperatures and strong winds.
The largest fire has been raging since Sunday afternoon near Oliveira de Azemais, in the province of Aveiro. More than 500 firefighters have been mobilized to deal with it. In the same province, but further south, a fire has burned at least two houses in two villages in the municipality of Albergaria a Vela, said the mayor, António Loureiro.
“Right now we already have houses burning,” he highlighted.
A firefighter is dead
Yesterday, Sunday, a volunteer firefighter died “suddenly” during a break, the Ministry of the Interior announced today.
Vehicle traffic has been suspended on three highways passing through the province, police said.
“Drivers should avoid driving on the roads heading towards Aveiro. It is the best way to avoid putting their lives in danger,” explained police officer Vitor Ribeiro.
So far this year, there have not been many fires in Portugal. By the end of August, 103,000 hectares had burned, a third of the area burned in 2023 and seven times less than the ten-year average.
Doubling investments
Following the deadly 2017 wildfires, which claimed the lives of more than 100 people, the country increased its investment in prevention tenfold and doubled its budget for dealing with wildfires.
Experts estimate that climate change is responsible for the increase in heat waves, as well as their greater duration and intensity.
The Iberian Peninsula is particularly affected by climate change, with heatwaves and droughts making wildfires more likely.
Source: RES-MPE
