Keystone-SDA
Despite an improvement in the situation due to the drop in temperatures, Portugal still fights on Friday against violent fires, one of which, in the center of the country, mobilizes nearly 1,600 firefighters supported by air means, according to civil protection.
(Keystone-ATS) It “could probably be (…) of the largest fire ever recorded in Portugal,” said AFP Paulo Fernandes, professor of the Forest Sciences Department of the University of Tras-Os-Montes, evoking this loss, who broke out in Arganil a dozen days ago.
According to data still provisional, Mr. Fernandes estimates the area devastated by this fire at some 60,000 hectares, the equivalent of three times the surface of Lac de Morat.
Like neighboring Spain, also affected by historical fires this summer, Portugal has experienced a lull on the front of forest fires since Thursday, thanks to a drop in temperatures that should continue in the coming days.
European support
Since the end of July, these fires have already killed three people and several seriously injured, especially among firefighters, and destroyed housing and agricultural farms.
Faced with the magnitude of the fires, Portugal had requested reinforcements a week ago as part of the European Civil Protection Mechanism. He is currently counting on the help of two Swedish devices, two Greek Canada and a French Super Puma helicopter.
“Only those who do not know the country (…) may think that it is possible to be everywhere, at any time, and to anticipate the appearance as the rapid spread of all fires,” justified Prime Minister Luis Montenegro, criticized for his disaster management.
At the end of an extraordinary council of ministers on Thursday, he announced a series of emergency measures in favor of the affected populations, including the funding, up to a limit of 250,000 euros, of the reconstruction of the main residences, or even aid for farmers.
The worst in 2017
The head of government also recognized the need to initiate reflection on forest management and the current civil protection system.
At the request of the opposition, he will have to explain the management of fires next Wednesday in Parliament.
According to data from the European Forest Fire Information System (Effis), an indicator of the European Observatory Copernicus, nearly 276,000 hectares have been burned since the start of the year in Portugal.
In 2017, more than 563,000 hectares burned, especially during devastating fires that killed 119 people.
The Iberian Peninsula is strongly struck by global warming, causing heat waves and droughts which promote forest fires, according to experts.
