Portugal battles to contain wildfires
Seventeen major fires blazed with the most serious in the centre and north of the country.
Some 750 firefighters sought to control a blaze in a eucalyptus forest in the Arouca municipality of central Portugal.
"This is currently the fire on which we are concentrating all efforts and reinforcements," Mario Silvestre, head of the National Authority for Civil Protection, told a press conference.
Hundreds more battled a blaze near the central town of Penamacor and one on a mountain at Ponte da Barca near the northern border with Spain. Four Spanish water carrying planes joined the effort on Monday.
"We are experiencing a difficult moment," Prime Minister Luis Montenegro said after visiting the national emergency service headquarters.
In all, 26 firefighting aircraft were in the air, civil protection officials said.
Some 20 people, including 14 firefighters, were treated for minor injuries.
The Ponte da Barca fire, which started on Saturday, forced the evacuation of some people to a local church and burnt nearly 2,000 hectares (5,000 acres) of land, according to preliminary estimates.
Authorities said the fires could worsen in coming days because of the heat.
"The only factor that we will be able to control in the coming days ... is human behaviour," said Silvestre.
Like many countries, Portugal faces wildfires every summer. Experts say climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of droughts and fires around the world.
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News.com.au
2 days ago
- News.com.au
Portugal battles to contain wildfires
Almost 2,700 firefighters battled Tuesday to contain forest blazes across Portugal that have led to almost the whole country being put on high alert for fires. Seventeen major fires blazed with the most serious in the centre and north of the country. Some 750 firefighters sought to control a blaze in a eucalyptus forest in the Arouca municipality of central Portugal. "This is currently the fire on which we are concentrating all efforts and reinforcements," Mario Silvestre, head of the National Authority for Civil Protection, told a press conference. Hundreds more battled a blaze near the central town of Penamacor and one on a mountain at Ponte da Barca near the northern border with Spain. Four Spanish water carrying planes joined the effort on Monday. "We are experiencing a difficult moment," Prime Minister Luis Montenegro said after visiting the national emergency service headquarters. In all, 26 firefighting aircraft were in the air, civil protection officials said. Some 20 people, including 14 firefighters, were treated for minor injuries. The Ponte da Barca fire, which started on Saturday, forced the evacuation of some people to a local church and burnt nearly 2,000 hectares (5,000 acres) of land, according to preliminary estimates. Authorities said the fires could worsen in coming days because of the heat. "The only factor that we will be able to control in the coming days ... is human behaviour," said Silvestre. Like many countries, Portugal faces wildfires every summer. Experts say climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of droughts and fires around the world. lf-gv/jxb
The Advertiser
29-06-2025
- The Advertiser
Extreme heat in Spain brings June record of 46C
A new heat record for June has been set in southern Spain as temperatures soared to 46C in the town of El Granado, near the Portuguese border. The Spanish state weather agency AEMET confirmed the record on Sunday, as both Spain and Portugal endure an unusually early and intense northern hemispher summer heatwave. Spain's previous June high of 45.2C was set in Seville in 1965. Dozens of towns and cities across Spain reported maximum temperatures above 40C while neighbouring Portugal also sweltered. In the country's southern Algarve tourist region, highs reached about 40C. On Spain's holiday island of Mallorca, temperatures climbed to nearly 35C. Overnight conditions offered little relief. In southern Spain, night-time lows remained above 30C - a level of sustained heat that experts say can pose serious health risks. Locals are accustomed to coping with extreme temperatures by limiting outdoor activity during peak heat, wearing light clothing and hydrating frequently. But the combination of scorching heat and intense sun is rapidly drying out soil and vegetation, sharply increasing the risk of wildfires. Meteorologists warn that such heatwaves are becoming more frequent and arriving earlier in the season due to human-driven climate change. According to meteorological agency AEMET, only two heatwaves were recorded in June between 1975 and 2000. Between 2000 and 2024, that number rose to nine. This year, temperatures approached August levels as early as late May. A new heat record for June has been set in southern Spain as temperatures soared to 46C in the town of El Granado, near the Portuguese border. The Spanish state weather agency AEMET confirmed the record on Sunday, as both Spain and Portugal endure an unusually early and intense northern hemispher summer heatwave. Spain's previous June high of 45.2C was set in Seville in 1965. Dozens of towns and cities across Spain reported maximum temperatures above 40C while neighbouring Portugal also sweltered. In the country's southern Algarve tourist region, highs reached about 40C. On Spain's holiday island of Mallorca, temperatures climbed to nearly 35C. Overnight conditions offered little relief. In southern Spain, night-time lows remained above 30C - a level of sustained heat that experts say can pose serious health risks. Locals are accustomed to coping with extreme temperatures by limiting outdoor activity during peak heat, wearing light clothing and hydrating frequently. But the combination of scorching heat and intense sun is rapidly drying out soil and vegetation, sharply increasing the risk of wildfires. Meteorologists warn that such heatwaves are becoming more frequent and arriving earlier in the season due to human-driven climate change. According to meteorological agency AEMET, only two heatwaves were recorded in June between 1975 and 2000. Between 2000 and 2024, that number rose to nine. This year, temperatures approached August levels as early as late May. A new heat record for June has been set in southern Spain as temperatures soared to 46C in the town of El Granado, near the Portuguese border. The Spanish state weather agency AEMET confirmed the record on Sunday, as both Spain and Portugal endure an unusually early and intense northern hemispher summer heatwave. Spain's previous June high of 45.2C was set in Seville in 1965. Dozens of towns and cities across Spain reported maximum temperatures above 40C while neighbouring Portugal also sweltered. In the country's southern Algarve tourist region, highs reached about 40C. On Spain's holiday island of Mallorca, temperatures climbed to nearly 35C. Overnight conditions offered little relief. In southern Spain, night-time lows remained above 30C - a level of sustained heat that experts say can pose serious health risks. Locals are accustomed to coping with extreme temperatures by limiting outdoor activity during peak heat, wearing light clothing and hydrating frequently. But the combination of scorching heat and intense sun is rapidly drying out soil and vegetation, sharply increasing the risk of wildfires. Meteorologists warn that such heatwaves are becoming more frequent and arriving earlier in the season due to human-driven climate change. According to meteorological agency AEMET, only two heatwaves were recorded in June between 1975 and 2000. Between 2000 and 2024, that number rose to nine. This year, temperatures approached August levels as early as late May. A new heat record for June has been set in southern Spain as temperatures soared to 46C in the town of El Granado, near the Portuguese border. The Spanish state weather agency AEMET confirmed the record on Sunday, as both Spain and Portugal endure an unusually early and intense northern hemispher summer heatwave. Spain's previous June high of 45.2C was set in Seville in 1965. Dozens of towns and cities across Spain reported maximum temperatures above 40C while neighbouring Portugal also sweltered. In the country's southern Algarve tourist region, highs reached about 40C. On Spain's holiday island of Mallorca, temperatures climbed to nearly 35C. Overnight conditions offered little relief. In southern Spain, night-time lows remained above 30C - a level of sustained heat that experts say can pose serious health risks. Locals are accustomed to coping with extreme temperatures by limiting outdoor activity during peak heat, wearing light clothing and hydrating frequently. But the combination of scorching heat and intense sun is rapidly drying out soil and vegetation, sharply increasing the risk of wildfires. Meteorologists warn that such heatwaves are becoming more frequent and arriving earlier in the season due to human-driven climate change. According to meteorological agency AEMET, only two heatwaves were recorded in June between 1975 and 2000. Between 2000 and 2024, that number rose to nine. This year, temperatures approached August levels as early as late May.
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