Portugal on alert over high wildfire risk
The Portuguese government declared a nationwide alert on Saturday due to the very high risk of wildfires expected in the coming days as a heatwave hits the Iberian Peninsula.
“The upcoming week will be challenging,” warned Interior Minister Maria Lucia Amaral.
Portugal and neighboring Spain have already faced several forest fires in recent days, most of which are under control. However, hundreds of firefighters remained mobilized on Saturday to battle active blazes of varying intensity, according to the country’s Civil Protection agency.
The government announced that the alert will remain in effect across the entire territory from midnight on Sunday, August 3, until Thursday, August 7, at 11:59 p.m. The measure includes bans on lighting fires, setting off fireworks, and accessing certain forest areas.
According to the European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS), more than 25,700 hectares have burned in Portugal since the beginning of the year.
Across the border, in Spain’s northwestern Galicia region, firefighters are working to contain flames near the town of Vilardevos.
Experts warn that recurring heatwaves are a direct consequence of climate change, which has severely impacted the Iberian Peninsula with frequent droughts and extreme heat, creating conditions that fuel the spread of wildfires.
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