2024 Portugal wildfires
| 2024 Portugal wildfires | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Date(s) | 15 September–ongoing |
| Location | Central and Northern Portugal |
| Statistics | |
| Total fires | 1,044+[1] |
| Total area | 94,146 hectares (363.5 square miles)[1] |
| Impacts | |
| Deaths | 7 |
| Non-fatal injuries | 143[2] |
| Structures destroyed | 60[3] |
| Ignition | |
| Cause | Exceptionally dry conditions, excessive heat, strong wind gusts, possible arson[4] |
The 2024 Portugal wildfires are a series of more than 1,000 wildfires[1], at least 128 labeled as devastating, that spread through central and northern Portugal in September 2024, resulting in the deaths of at least seven people - amongst them were four firefighters -, the evacuation of several villages, and a response of over 5,000 firefighters with assistance from the European Union.
Wildfires
[edit]Wildfires began in mid-September and spread across central and northern Portugal, with at least 128 separate fires being reported by 16 September that had burned about 10,000 hectares (39 square miles) between the northern municipalities of Aveiro District and Porto District.[5] Blazes reached Albergaria-a-Velha in Aveiro District and burned down multiple houses.[6]
The triggering and rapid spread of the wildfires were caused by "unusually dry conditions" and strong gusts of wind that reached up to 70 km/h (43 mph), in addition to temperatures reaching or exceeding 30 °C (86 °F) from 14 to 16 September.[5][6]
Impact
[edit]At least seven people were killed due to the wildfires, including three firefighters who were trapped inside a vehicle in Tábua,[7] and three civilians.[8] Portuguese police found the body of a victim of the wildfires, who was working at a logging company when the fires came.[where?] Nearby, one firefighter died in Oliveira de Azeméis after suffering from cardiopulmonary arrest as he battled nearby fires. Two more people suffered serious injuries which included burns and respiratory difficulties, requiring them to be hospitalized.[5][6][9] Twelve more firefighters were injured while combating blazes, four of whom were injured severely.[5]
The mayor of Albergaria-a-Velha, António Loureiro, reported that four houses had burnt down and at least twenty more were in danger in the town's residential and industrial perimeters, requiring the evacuation of several districts. Two more homes were destroyed in Cabeceiras de Basto, in Braga.[9]
Response
[edit]A "special red alert" status was implemented across all of continental Portugal. Portuguese authorities issued evacuation orders for several villages close to the wildfires. Authorities also shut down several roadways close to ongoing wildfires and thick smoke, including sections of the main highway connecting Lisbon and Porto.[6] At least 70 residents were forced to evacuate in the Aveiro region.[5]
Over 5,000 firefighters and 1,500 fire engines were assigned to combat spreading fires across the nation.[5] Of these, about 1,100 firefighters and twelve firefighting aircraft were assigned to fight four fires in and around Aveiro district, including the one that entered Albergaria-a-Velha. Eight more firefighting aircraft were requested by Portugal from the European Commission under the RescEU program. Spain sent two aircraft while France and Greece both stated that they would send two more each.[6] President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen stated that the EU was "urgently mobilising" and requested that other EU member states also send assistance.[5]
See also
[edit]- 2024 European floods – Concurrent European climate-related disaster
- 2024 Attica wildfires
- 2024 Russian wildfires
- 2024 Turkey wildfires
References
[edit]- ^ a b c Jerónimo, Mariana (19 September 2024). "Ministra da Administração Interna fala pela primeira vez ao país". SIC Notícias. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
- ^ Bertrand Franco, Vasco; Vieira, Ricardo (18 September 2024). "Número de vítimas dos incêndios aumenta, Espanha envia mais bombeiros". Rádio Renascença. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
- ^ "Governo promete 'apoios públicos abundantes' para pagar 85% da recuperação de casas ardidas". Expresso. 17 September 2024. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
- ^ Magalhães Claudino, Henrique (17 September 2024). "Incêndios. Mais de 100 ignições aconteceram durante a noite. 'Há um padrão que aponta para mão criminosa'". CNN Portugal. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g Burgess, Jack; Dean, Grace (2024-09-16). "Portugal: Thousands of firefighters battle 'raging' wildfires". BBC. Retrieved 2024-09-16.
- ^ a b c d e Nunes, Pedro (16 September 2024). "At least two die as wildfires hit Portugal, Europe sends help". Reuters. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
- ^ Burgess, Jack; Dean, Grace (September 17, 2024). "Three firefighters die tackling Portugal wildfires". BBC.
- ^ Alves, Helena; Wilson, Joseph (September 19, 2024). "Portugal declares a state of calamity as wildfires rage out of control". Associated Press.
- ^ a b "Portugal asks EU for assistance as wildfire reaches residential area". euronews. 2024-09-16. Retrieved 2024-09-16.
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