PJ police are investigating a fire which broke out in the early hours of this morning at the luxury resort of Na Praia in Tróia – a project with various investors, including Zara heiress Sandra Ortega, and which has ‘a complicated history’ involving a form of David versus Goliath environmental fight.
In this case, Goliath was/ is Na Praia, and thus the fire that began in the ‘central part of the hotel of the development’ may be suspicious.
According to reports, elements of the PJ’s Setúbal branch were at the resort this morning “undertaking investigations to try and understand the origin of the fire”.
José António Uva – described by Lusa as the project promoter – has said in a written statement to the state news agency that the hotel “was partially affected as the result of a fire that broke out this morning, not causing any victims”.
Apparently, “only one building of the hotel was partially affected”, involving an extension of 50 metres.
“The rest of the development, including individual guest quarters, public areas, the restaurant and services area,did not suffer any damage”, Uva stressed in the statement.
Some bedrooms in the central section of the hotel, however, did suffer damage.
The hotel is due to open in June – but now this opening date will have to be delayed, said the statement.
“Following the necessary evaluation by public and partner authorities, we will start tomorrow with work to re-establish the affected area so that we can move forwards with the opening of the hotel as soon as possible,” Uva added.
A source for the local emergency and civil protection command has been cited as saying that the alert was raised around 4.40 this morning. It was not until early this afternoon that the fire was considered dominated.
Around 90 firefighters from several corporations – Alentejo Litoral, Setúbal Peninsula, Alentejo Central and Baixo Alentejo – tackled the blaze, supported by 35 appliances, local GNR and Grândola municipal civil protection.
Na Praia became an issue three years ago when citizens movement Dunas Livres challenged the plan through the courts describing the situation as “a necessary fight against the exponential rise of megaprojects of luxury tourism that are being approved and built left and right, on top of ancient dunes, ignoring what should be areas protected by national and European law.
There was a brief moment when Judge Ana Casa Branca caused construction to stop, giving Grândola council – and investors – 10 days to defend their position against the case put by Dunas Livre, and backed by various NGOs, including Quercus, ZERO, Ocean Alive, SPEA and Associação Iris, which cited “very significant impacts on ecological systems, in addition to coastal risks, pressure on water resources, soil, air and landscape.
“The construction of the development calls into question 200 hectares of rare and sensitive habitats, very rich in biodiversity, with several protected species of flora”, said the injunction that ultimately did not prevail.
Source material: SIC
