Thousands of firefighters battle ‘raging’ wildfires across Portugal

By Jack Burgess
BBC News
September 16, 2024
Category: Forest Fires
Region: International

PORTUGAL — More than 5,000 firefighters have been tackling wildfires that Portugal’s Prime Minister has said are “raging across the country”. Louis Montenegro named one firefighter who had died of “a sudden illness” while battling a blaze in Oliveira de Azeméis as João Silva. Temperatures in Portugal exceeded 30C (86F) over the weekend and are expected to remain elevated for days. At least two people have died due to the fires, according to local media reports. Portuguese authorities say there is the highest possible risk of wildfires breaking out across many central and northern regions of the country through to Wednesday – with the threat remaining “very high” until Friday. Ten thousand hectares (37 sq miles) have already been burned between Porto and Aveiro in the north, the Portuguese news agency Lusa said. As of 23:00 BST, there were 128 active wildfires across the country.

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