“125 new fires broke out between yesterday evening and 7am today”
Portugal’s national emergency and civil protection commander is predicting a “difficult and complicated” afternoon and early morning in the fight against Portugal’s fires, considering the situation “complex” and “extreme in some areas.
“I appeal to everyone to remain calm during the afternoon and early hours of tomorrow, which will be difficult and complicated in terms of fighting the fires,” said André Fernandes, at the afternoon press conference held at the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority (ANEPC).
The national commander also called for a “reduction in ignitions” of fires, noting that 125 new fires occurred between 8 pm yesterday and 7 am today, i.e. the fires started during the night.
“This number is unacceptable. It means that we are not adapting our behaviour to the existing risk,” he stressed.
André Fernandes also stressed that “the situation is complex” and “extreme in some areas”, with “the fires behaving in a very extreme way.
“A large part of these fires are not extinguishable. This does not mean that they are out of control, it means that the strategy being adopted is geared towards preserving human life and property. This is what the resources on the ground are doing,” he said.
In terms of combat, Fernandes said that the most complicated situations are in the municipalities of Baião, Mangualde, Castro Daire, Nelas, Sever do Vouga, Albergaria-a-Velha, Águeda and Oliveira de Azeméis.
However, he pointed out that “the whole country is on high alert and the risk of fire is extreme” everywhere.
Regarding air resources made available to Portugal under the European Civil Protection Mechanism, Fernandes said that two Spanish Canadair planes have been operating since 9am in the fire between the Aveiro region and the Porto Metropolitan Area, the other two French planes landed this morning and will start operating this afternoon, as will the Italian planes.
Two Greek Canadair aircraft have not yet arrived due to adverse weather conditions in the Mediterranean.
According to IPMA sea and atmosphere institute, more than a hundred municipalities, mainly in the North and Centre regions, remain in maximum danger of fire today due to the hot weather.
Since Sunday, seven people have died, four of them firefighters, and 40 others have been injured.
Because of the heat, IPMA has issued a yellow warning for the districts of Porto, Setúbal, Viana do Castelo, Lisbon, Leiria, Aveiro, Coimbra and Braga at least until 6 pm today.
Given the weather forecasts, the government has extended the fire risk alert to midnight on Thursday, and announced the creation of a multidisciplinary team based in Aveiro coordinated by the Deputy Minister for Territorial Cohesion, Manuel Castro Almeida, to deal with the consequences of these fires.
According to the latest ANEPC report, 65 fires were active at the end of the morning, mobilising more than 4,000 operatives, 1,250 vehicles and 23 aircraft.
André Fernandes said that some evacuations were carried out during the early hours of this morning, but said he would give more details at this evening’s 8pm roundup.
Source: LUSA
