Forest lights: firefighters still mobilized Wednesday in Portugal

Standers of calcined forests. Therefore, still traveled by flames: Portuguese and Spanish firefighters remain on Wednesday on a maximum alert to try to contain the forest fires which have ravaged the Iberian peninsula for several days.

In Portugal. Similarly, seven major lights are still active in the north and the center of the country after a lull observed Wednesday morning, mobilizing more than 2,000 firefighters supported by around twenty aircraft, according to a latest civil protection assessment.

Spain. Moreover, also affected by this wave of fires, fights against two major households in the provinces of Avila and Caceres (Center-West).

In Portugal. Consequently, fires in the north of the country arouse the most vivid concerns due to the high temperatures and the wind expected in the afternoon. Moreover, In Ponte Da Barca. Similarly, where a fire has been raging since Saturday evening, the forest lights: firefighters still mobilized mayor Augusto Marinho asked for reinforcements to protect the village of Germil, threatened with encirclement by the flames.

‘We are trying to master the situation but this afternoon the weather could reserve some unpleasant surprises for us. Nevertheless, ‘ said commander of civil protection Marco Domingues.

Call to vigilance

The Arouca fire (North). Therefore, launched on Monday afternoon, mobilizes the largest device: some 780 firefighters, helped by 267 vehicles and eight aircraft. Faced with the progress of the flames, the inhabitants of a village near Melres (North) experienced trying moments on Tuesday.

‘It’s terrible! Last year it had already burned on the other side, it was madness … And now here ‘, told AFP Maria Da Conceiçao, 64 years old.

Under a sky obscured by thick black smoke. and in the face of the progress of the flames, some residents tried to defend their property with watering pipes while waiting forest lights: firefighters still mobilized for the arrival of help.

On the other side of the border. in Spain, in Caminomorisco, in the province of Caceres (West) A fire has already destroyed 2500 hectares. Six hamlets were evacuated as a preventive basis and several roads were cut. The evolution of this household will depend on the wind expected over the day, the regional authorities said.

In the neighboring province of Avila. another fire, which declared itself on Monday near Cuevas del Valle, led to the confinement of the village of El Arenal. Faced with extreme risk, the Portuguese and Spanish authorities called on the populations to the greatest vigilance.

Displigorable weather

Wednesday is difficult day due to unfavorable weather conditions. with sustained winds and high temperatures up to 40 degrees in central Portugal.

Almost all of the Portuguese territory is on alert. due to a maximum, very high or high fire risk, according to forecasts forest lights: firefighters still mobilized from the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and the atmosphere (IPMA).

Faced with these conditions. Portugal had decided at the start of the week to strengthen its system for combating forest fires. The Portuguese government assured Wednesday that the government was going to strengthen the airlines. From August. the country hopes to have a total of 76 aircraft to fight fires, said the Secretary of State for Civil Protection Rui Rocha.

29. 000 burnt hectares

After the deadly fires of 2017, which left more than a hundred dead, Portugal has increased the investment in prevention and doubled its budget for the fight against forest fires.

According to further provisional data from the Institut des Forêts (ICNF). more than 29,000 hectares have already gone up in smoke since the start of the year in Portugal, which has faced destructive fires every summer.

Experts consider that the multiplication of heat waves forest lights: firefighters still mobilized are consequences of climate change. The Iberian Peninsula is strongly struck, with heat waves and droughts that promote forest fires.

/ATS