After four days in which the flames multiplied everywhere in the north and centre of Portugal, the improvement in the weather conditions gave some relief in the last few hours to the teams involved in extinguishing the fire. The early morning was the least exhausting for the firefighters, who have spent four consecutive nights battling fires of such magnitude that they colour the darkness red, shoot harmful particles into the air and end up enveloping part of the sky in Galicia in smoke. The increase in humidity and the decrease in wind intensity have been necessary allies to alleviate the situation.
At 10:00 (Spanish time) on Thursday there were 103 fires, but for the first time, a large part was under control. The National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority considered that 62 were in the concluding phase and another 11 were in the process of being resolved, including some of those that have been advancing for days in Oliveira de Azeméis and Sever do Vouga, in the Aveiro district. There were another 17 active fires on which efforts were concentrated, with 20 air resources and 1,690 personnel, in addition to 14 fires in the initial phase. In total, the forces deployed throughout the country were close to 4,000 personnel, 1,200 land resources and 21 air resources.
Several volunteers work alongside the flames in the town of Agueda, this Wednesday. Pedro Nunes (REUTERS)
A firefighter stands next to the flames in the Portuguese town of Cassuraes, on Wednesday. Carlos Garcia (EFE)A volunteer puts out the flames in the Portuguese town of Santiago de Cassurraes, on Wednesday. Carlos Garcia (EFE)A woman throws water to extinguish the flames near her home in Vilarinho, Portugal, on Tuesday.Pedro Nunes (REUTERS)A plane drops water to extinguish the flames in Freixiosa, Portugal, on Tuesday.Susana Vera (REUTERS)People try to humidify the area during the fire in Vilarinho, Portugal, on Tuesday.Pedro Nunes (REUTERS)A woman reacts near her house surrounded by flames in Covelo, this Tuesday. Jose Coelho (EFE)A woman extinguishes flames near her home in Covelo, on Tuesday. Jose Coelho (EFE)A woman holds a bucket as she watches flames approach her home in the Portuguese town of Covelo on Tuesday. Jose Coelho (EFE)Residents try to put out the flames that are approaching their homes in Covelo, this Tuesday. Jose Coelho (EFE)A woman points to flames reaching her home in Covelo, northern Portugal, on Tuesday. Jose Coelho (EFE)A woman looks at the flames approaching her house in Covelo, Gondomar municipality, on Tuesday. Jose Coelho (EFE)Residents leave the Portuguese town of Covelo, surrounded by fire, on Tuesday. Jose Coelho (EFE)Firefighters and volunteers are trying to put out the fire surrounding the Portuguese town of Mesquitela on Tuesday. Carlos Garcia (EFE)Residents try to put out the flames surrounding the Portuguese town of Mesquitela, in the Mangualde region, on Tuesday. Carlos Garcia (EFE)Flames are rising along the EN-16 national highway between the Portuguese towns of Freixiosa and Mangualde on Tuesday. Carlos Garcia (EFE)A helicopter drops water on the area of the fire in the municipality of Baiao, this Monday. Octavio Passos (Getty Images)A man throws a bucket of water to put out a forest fire in Oliveira De Azemeis, Portugal, on Monday. Estela Silva (EFE)Firefighters try to extinguish the fire in Penalva do Castelo, Portugal, on Monday.Pedro Nunes (REUTERS)Firefighters work to extinguish the flames in Macinhata do Vouga, Portugal, on Monday.PAULO NOVAIS (EFE)A man uses a hose to extinguish a fire in Oliveira De Azemeis, on Monday. Estela Silva (EFE)Firefighters in Jovim, Gondomar, are working to extinguish the flames on Monday.Jose Coelho (EFE)A view of the burned forest in Albergaria-a-velha, Portugal, on Monday.PAULO NOVAIS (EFE)Residents look on as the fire burns in the municipality of Baiao, Portugal, on Monday.Octavio Passos (Getty Images)A helicopter drops water to extinguish the forest fire in Albergaria-a-velha, this Monday. PAULO NOVAIS (EFE)Flames burn trees in the municipality of Baiao, Portugal, on Monday.Octavio Passos (Getty Images)A firefighter works to extinguish the flames in Soutelo, Portugal, on Monday. PAULO NOVAIS (EFE)A woman carries water to help put out the flames in Oliveira De Azemeis, Portugal, on Monday. Estela Silva (EFE)A firefighter during the work of extinguishing the fire in Soutelo, Portugal, this Monday.PAULO NOVAIS (EFE)Several firefighters during the work to extinguish the fire in Penalva do Castelo, Portugal, on Monday.Pedro Nunes (REUTERS)Firefighters work to extinguish a forest fire in Soutelo, Portugal, on Monday.PAULO NOVAIS (EFE)
The severity of this wave of fires has made 2024 go from being one of the mildest years to one of the worst of the last decade, only surpassed by the tragic 2017, when in addition to devastating 563,000 hectares, 66 people died. On this occasion, according to data from the European Forest Fire Information System, 139,000 hectares have burned since January, the majority (106,000) in the last four days.
UN Secretary General António Guterres has warned of the influence of climate change on the increase in devastating events such as fires and floods. “It is absolutely clear that the worsening of the fires in Portugal, or the worsening of the floods in Central and Eastern Europe or in Nigeria, as well as a set of other disasters that we see multiplying everywhere in the world, have a direct relationship with the worsening of the climate crisis. Today, no one has any doubts about this,” he told Lusa news agency.
The Portuguese government has declared the affected municipalities to be disaster zones in an attempt to speed up aid. In addition to seven fatalities (four firefighters and three residents), the fires have destroyed houses, warehouses, cars, stables and warehouses. Schools and nursing homes have been closed. Many people have had to be rehoused in makeshift wards. In the towns close to the burnt areas, residents are working hard to provide food, clothing and essential items to people who have lost everything.
Knowing what’s happening outside means understanding what’s going to happen inside, so don’t miss anything.
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