Portugal battles with fires: 62,000 hectares burned and seven lives lost

The northern and central regions of mainland Portugal remain engulfed in flames, with the Aveiro district seeing the largest deployment of firefighting personnel, despite a calmer outlook.

The fires in Sever do Vouga (Pessegueiro do Vouga and Sever do Vouga) and Albergaria-a-Velha have begun to ease. As of Wednesday morning, more than 1,000 firefighters, supported by 320 vehicles, were actively involved in the response.

João Oliveira, the municipal coordinator of Civil Protection in Albergaria-a-Velha, told the Lusa news agency that the fire is "practically contained" but more than 40 houses have been affected by the flames.

Around 400 firefighters were working to combat the fire that broke out in the municipality of Oliveira de Azeméis, in the early hours of Wednesday.

Some roads remain closed as authorities monitor the spread of the flames.

Evacuations in Gondomar

Homes in the Branzelo area of Melres, in the municipality of Gondomar, are being evacuated due to the fires raging in the Porto district, according to the officials.

More than 170 firefighters with 39 vehicles are battling the blaze. Gondomar's mayor, Marco Martins, said efforts to contain the fires are challenging, as multiple active fronts continue to spread across the municipality.

Morocco sends two aircraft and Spanish firefighters arrive in Portugal

Around 230 Spanish firefighters from the Military Emergencies Unit (UME) arrived in Portugal on Wednesday to assist with the forest fires.

Morocco will also help Portuguese forces by sending two Canadair aircraft, which are set to arrive on Wednesday.

According to Lusa news agency, citing a source from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the request was made by Minister Margarida Blasco to her counterparts in Spain and Morocco, as part of the bilateral agreements between Portugal and these countries.

The European Commission has already deployed eight firefighting planes following Portugal’s request to activate the EU Civil Protection Mechanism.

More than 50 municipalities across nine mainland districts are at maximum risk of fire due to the hot weather, according to the Portuguese Sea and Atmosphere Institute (IPMA).

Over 62,000 hectares burned in mainland Portugal

Tábua Town Council has declared three days of municipal mourning for Sónia Cláudia Melo, Paulo Jorge Santos, and Susana Cristina Carvalho, firefighters from the Vila Nova de Oliveirinha Corporation who lost their lives on Tuesday while combating a fire in the region.

Since the weekend, fires in Portugal have claimed a total of seven lives, including four firefighters and three civilians. Over 40 people have been injured, with two suffering serious injuries, as the fires have devastated homes in the north and centre of the country.

The European Copernicus system says that since Sunday, over 62,000 hectares have been scorched across mainland Portugal with the north and centre regions borne the brunt, with 47,376 hectares affected.

In response to the ongoing crisis, the government has declared a state of emergency in all municipalities affected by the fires in recent days.