In northern Portugal, over 100 wildfires are challenging thousands of firefighters, resulting in seven fatalities since the wildfires escalated out of control over the past weekend. Prime Minister Luís Montenegro issued a state of calamity for the most affected regions, allowing for the mobilization of additional firefighters and civil servants. He also urged police investigators to intensify efforts in finding the culprits responsible for starting the fires and promised assistance for those affected by the blazes.
Acknowledging the ongoing challenges, Montenegro stressed the need for continued efforts from all resources and reached out to partner countries for additional support in protecting people and property. The simultaneous occurrence of extreme weather events, with wildfires in Portugal and floods in central Europe, has been attributed by the European Union to evidence a “climate breakdown.”
Countries like Spain, France, Italy, and Greece have each committed two water-dropping aircraft to aid Portuguese firefighters in combating the blazes. Spain is additionally dispatching 240 soldiers and specialized vehicles from its emergency response battalions to assist Portugal in firefighting efforts.
Montenegro emphasized the importance of law enforcement pursuing arsonists and individuals whose negligence leads to wildfires. Several suspects have been arrested for starting fires, prompting authorities to prohibit the use of heavy agricultural equipment to minimize the risk of accidental fires.
While the Aveiro district in northern Portugal is among the hardest-hit areas, other regions are also battling major wildfires. Property damage and the number of evacuees are yet to be determined, but media outlets have shown footage of charred homes, residents trying to extinguish flames with makeshift tools, and thick orange smoke shrouding the landscape.
Tragically, three firefighters lost their lives in their vehicle on Tuesday, with another succumbing to a sudden illness over the weekend. Additionally, three civilians have perished due to the wildfires, according to civil protection authorities. Experts attribute the recurring fires in Portugal to climate change and the abandonment of traditional agricultural and forestry practices that previously maintained clear rural areas, now serving as fuel for fires.
