Portugal in the grip of several fires, maximum alert state triggered

Portugal is battling several fires on Tuesday, July 29, particularly in the northern and central regions of the country, fueled by adverse weather conditions, with high temperatures and strong winds, according to the National Civil Protection Authority. The entire territory is on alert due to a "maximum or very high" fire risk, according to forecasts from the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA) .

Nearly 2,000 firefighters, assisted by 26 aerial vehicles, were deployed at midday to fight forest and brush fires. The most worrying situation was concentrated in a eucalyptus forest near the municipality of Arouca, in the center of the country, mobilizing some 600 professionals and 195 ground resources.

"This is the fire on which we are currently focusing all our efforts and reinforcements," said the national commander of the National Civil Protection Authority, Mario Silvestre. The other two major fires in Penamacor (Centre) and Ponte da Barca, in the north of the country , "are fairly well under control," he reported.

The Ponte da Barca fire, which broke out on Saturday near the Spanish border, mobilized four Spanish planes on Monday and threatened several homes by the end of the day, so much so that several people had to be evacuated to a nearby church. This blaze has already consumed "nearly 2,000 hectares," according to provisional estimates.

Authorities fear a worsening of the situation due to the persistent heat and are calling for vigilance. "The only factor we will be able to control in the coming days... is human behavior," the head of civil protection reminded.

Portugal faces destructive wildfires every summer. Faced with worsening weather conditions this year, the country has decided to strengthen its firefighting resources, especially in the north and center of the country.

Prime Minister Luis Montenegro and Interior Minister Maria Lucia Amaral were at the headquarters of the National Civil Protection Authority on Tuesday afternoon. "We want to be fully informed about what is happening and what to expect," the minister observed.

In the country, this year, the area already burned has almost tripled compared to the same period in 2024, according to statistics from the Integrated Rural Fire Management Agency. Nearly a third of these fires (28%) occurred on days when the risk was reported as "very high," and 10% on days of "maximum" risk.

Climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of droughts and fires across the world.