Portugal has declared a state of calamity as over 100 wildfires continue to burn out of control, stretching firefighting resources and leaving a devastating toll in the country’s northern regions, the Associated Press reports.
Since the fires escalated over the weekend, seven people have lost their lives, and thousands of hectares have been scorched.
On Tuesday night, Portuguese Prime Minister Luís Montenegro invoked emergency powers to mobilize additional firefighters and civil servants. In a televised address, Montenegro pledged government support for evacuees and those who have lost their homes, while calling for intensified efforts to apprehend the arsonists and negligent individuals responsible for starting the fires.
“We are well aware that these difficult hours are not over yet… We must give everything we have and ask for help from our partners and friends to protect our people and property,” Montenegro said.
The fires have been fueled by hot, dry conditions, and as of Tuesday night, the European Copernicus satellite service reported that over 15,000 hectares (37,000 acres) of land had been consumed by flames. A combined 13 kilometers (8 miles) of fire fronts were detected, with 210,000 residents at risk. The European Union has linked the wildfires to climate change, highlighting the extreme weather hitting various parts of the continent, with simultaneous flooding occurring in central Europe.
In response to Portugal’s appeal for assistance, Spain sent 240 soldiers and firefighting vehicles, while four water-dumping planes from France, two from Spain, and two from Italy were deployed. Morocco also sent two planes. Despite the reinforcements, thick smoke has hindered aerial firefighting efforts, according to Civil Protection official André Fernandes.
Montenegro emphasized the need for heightened security to target arsonists, as seven men suspected of starting fires were arrested in recent days. Authorities have also banned the use of heavy farming equipment to reduce the risk of accidental fires.
The district of Aveiro, south of Porto, has been one of the worst-hit areas, along with other forested regions. Local media footage has shown residents in rural villages using hoses, buckets of water, and tree branches in desperate attempts to battle the advancing flames. Visibility in some areas has been reduced to mere meters as thick orange smoke envelops the land.
The fires have claimed the lives of three firefighters, including two who died in a vehicle accident, and another who died from a “sudden illness.” Three civilians have also perished, and dozens have been injured, with 10 people in serious condition.
Portugal, which suffered catastrophic wildfires in 2017 that killed over 120 people, remains on high alert, with authorities warning of continued risk over the next 48 hours. Experts attribute the fires to climate change and the abandonment of traditional farming and forestry practices that once helped manage the underbrush now fueling the blazes.
