Latest news with #CivilProtectionMechanism
Hans India
20 hours ago
- Health
- Hans India
Six dead in nursing home fire in northern Portugal
Lisbon: A fire broke out early Saturday at a nursing home in northern Portugal's Mirandela, leaving six people dead, five seriously injured, and 20 others with minor injuries, local authorities said. The incident, which happened around 5 am local time (0400 GMT), was confirmed by Luis Carlos Soares, commander of the Mirandela fire department, in a statement sent to local broadcaster RTP. Aderito Gomes, one of the board members of the institution, said the blaze is believed to have started in connection with an anti-bedsore mattress in a room with three residents, all of whom died. Three other elderly persons died due to smoke inhalation and respiratory complications. The nursing home hosted about 90 elderly people, Xinhua news agency reported. After the incident, some of them were transferred to hospitals in Mirandela, Macedo de Cavaleiros and Braganca, while the rest are being relocated to other facilities. Authorities stressed that the fire was not connected to the ongoing wave of wildfires affecting several parts of the country. The Portuguese National Authority for Emergency and Civil Protection announced on Friday that Portugal has activated the European Union (EU) Civil Protection Mechanism in its fight against wildfires, requesting Canadair aircraft to support firefighting operations. Mario Silvestre, National Commander for emergency and civil protection, said the decision was based on the overnight and early morning developments of the fires, as well as the failure to contain the Lousa fire, which spread 30 km in three hours and now has a perimeter of 208 km. According to Lusa News Agency, a total of 2,850 personnel were mobilized for the six fires of greatest concern to the authorities, supported by 960 vehicles and 32 aerial assets. Interior Minister Maria Lucia Amaral announced on Thursday that Portugal would remain under alert until August 17, due to the heightened wildfire risk caused by weather conditions. The extended alert includes continued bans on agricultural and recreational activities in rural areas, such as access to and movement within forested zones, as well as prohibitions on bonfires, machinery use, and fireworks. Wildfires have been affecting the country for 23 days amid an uninterrupted heat wave.
Euractiv
3 days ago
- Euractiv
Spanish police arrest four over new forest fires
The arrests come as wildfires rage across Spain, devastating about 40,000 hectares of land AFP Aug 14, 2025 17:20 1 min. read News Service Produced externally by an organization we trust to adhere to journalistic standards. Spanish investigators said on Thursday they had arrested four people suspected of starting forest fires, taking the total number of accused this summer to 30. Three of the latest arrests were in the northwest Castile and Leon region, where about 40,000 hectares (100,000 acres) of land have been devastated by fire, the civil guard said. Two volunteers have died battling the flames there this week. One man was detained on Thursday over a fire in which 3,000 hectares of land burned around Puercas de Aliste in Castile and Leon, the civil guard said. Another suspect was arrested on Wednesday over six forest fires between 19 July and 3 August around the southern resort of Malaga. "Some of these fires were started very close to homes," said a civil guard statement. Spain's Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska told RAC1 radio on Wednesday that 25 other people had been detained for starting fires this summer and that many had been intentional. The new arrests come as Spain activated on Wednesday the EU's Civil Protection Mechanism for the first time to tackle forest fires, Commission spokesperson Eva Hrncirova said on Thursday. (mm) Euractiv is part of the Trust Project
UPI
3 days ago
- Climate
- UPI
EU sending assistance for Spain wildfires
The European Union has sent two planes to assist Spain in taking care of wildfires, after Spain activated the EU Civil Protection Mechanism for the first time ever for forest fires. Photo by EPA Philippe Magoni Aug. 14 (UPI) -- The European Union sent two planes to assist Spain in taking care of wildfires, after Spain activated the EU Civil Protection Mechanism for the first time ever for forest fires. The commission mobilized two rescEU planes on Thursday. Three people have been reported killed by the current wildfires in the city of Leon and one near Madrid. "We are struck once again by the death of a second volunteer who has lost their life in Leon. All our love and support go out to their family and friends during this unbearable time," Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said on social media on Thursday. Spain's weather agency AEMET warned that a heat wave exceeding 111 degrees Fahrenheit will continue until Monday. Spain's Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska had requested two Canadiar bomber aircraft to help. "At the moment we don't need the two Canadair planes urgently but given the weather forecast, we want to have those planes in our national territory as soon as possible so they can be used, should they be necessary," he said. "At this time, the government does not rule out requesting more firefighters," he added. Alongside Spain, Greece, Bulgaria, Montenegro and Albania have all requested help to deal with forest fires. The EU Civil Protection Mechanism has been activated 16 times throughout this current fire season; the number of activations for 2025 is already equivalent to the total activations for 2024's wildfires during the whole fire season. Roughly 1,084,792 acres of land have been burnt since the start of the year due to wildfires and 1628 fires have been detected since the beginning of 2025.
Euractiv
3 days ago
- Politics
- Euractiv
EU disaster mechanism hits record wildfire activations as Europe keeps burning
The EU stands ready to help countries battling wildfires as its disaster response mechanism hits a record 16 activations this summer, the European Commission said on Thursday. The surge in requests puts the bloc on course for a record-breaking year for emergency deployments, as some of the most destructive wildfires in recent memory continue to rage across Southern Europe and the Balkans. So far, blazes driven by extreme heat, strong winds and, in some cases, arson have scorched around 440,000 hectares, according to Reuters . That is nearly twice the size of Luxembourg. Greece, Albania, Cyprus, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Bulgaria, and Bosnia and Herzegovina have all sought help through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, which has been in place since 2001 but has seen a sharp rise in use in recent years. On Wednesday, Spain activated the Civil Protection Mechanism for the first time to tackle forest fires, becoming the 16th activation this summer, Commission spokesperson Eva Hrncirova said. She added that this matches last year's total with weeks still to go. The system coordinates cross-border disaster relief and covers the transport and operational costs of deployments, though firefighting remains a national responsibility. 'I think the situation shows that we are able to act very swiftly and that we are able to cover the needs of the states that ask for help,' she said. 'It's up to the member states to take the right measures to prevent these man-made fires." But "we are here to coordinate and contribute as much as we can." The mechanism can also be activated by any country in the world, even international organisations. For example, earlier this summer, Italian, Cypriot and Croatian planes were deployed in Israel to get a wildfire under control. (mm)
The Star
28-07-2025
- Climate
- The Star
Roundup: Southern Europe battles unrelenting wildfires amid heatwaves
ROME, July 28 (Xinhua) -- A wave of destructive wildfires has swept across Southern Europe in recent days, driven by scorching temperatures, strong winds, and prolonged drought. Emergency teams remain on high alert as experts warn of worsening climate conditions and rising fire risks. Portugal is battling major blazes in the north and center. A fire near Valongo in the Portalegre district was contained after burning vast vegetation. Three people, including two firefighters, were hospitalized from exhaustion. In Peneda-Geres National Park, a fire in Ponte da Barca remains active. Strong winds and rugged terrain hinder operations, with over 230 personnel, dozens of vehicles, and helicopters from Spain deployed. The Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA) has issued maximum fire danger alerts for most northern and central municipalities, with yellow weather warnings across mainland Portugal and Madeira. Hot, dry, and windy conditions are expected to persist. In Greece, over 50 wildfires broke out in 24 hours last week, affecting Attica, Evia, the Peloponnese, Kythera, and Crete. Thousands evacuated as homes and farmland were threatened. The European Union (EU) Civil Protection Mechanism was activated, bringing support from Italy and the Czech Republic. Six firefighters were injured, and several engines were damaged. In Kythera, land and sea evacuations were carried out. Temperatures neared 46 degrees Celsius, with low humidity and high winds accelerating the fires. Authorities linked the worsening fire season to climate change and urged the public to avoid fire-triggering activities. Italy continues to fight wildfires, especially in Sicily, where temperatures exceeded 40 degrees Celsius. Fires between Trapani and Palermo destroyed homes and forced evacuations. In Partinico, seven blazes caused serious damage. Fires continue in Catania and eastern Sicily. A firefighter was hospitalized due to smoke. Bulgaria is facing over 260 active fires, most critically in the Strumyani region. Assistance arrived through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, with planes from France, Slovakia, and Hungary, and more are expected from Sweden and the Czech Republic. Deputy Interior Minister Toni Todorov reported improved conditions but noted ongoing efforts. Two arson suspects were arrested. Prime Minister Rossen Jeliazkov blamed human negligence for most fires and warned against careless behavior. Temperatures in southeastern Bulgaria range from 30 to 41 degrees Celsius. Romania sent a Black Hawk helicopter to Bulgaria on Monday - its first foreign mission - to assist in firefighting operations there. And domestically, it battled fires in Prahova and Arges. Near Ploiesti, 50 hectares burned, threatening a paint factory. In Lunca Corbului, fires destroyed trees, vehicles, and farm structures. Drought and heat were key factors. In southern Bosnia and Herzegovina, wildfires near Trebinje were brought under control after three weeks. Helicopters dropped 650,000 liters of water. Rainfall has now stabilized conditions. Croatia reported 501 more wildfires than in last year, though the total burned area halved thanks to fast responses. Fire Chief Slavko Tucakovic noted fires are increasingly found in industrial zones, with 24 to 30 new ones daily. Climatologist Marcello Miglietta of Italy's Institute of Atmospheric Sciences and Climate warned that without long-term action, the Mediterranean will remain highly vulnerable to seasonal fire disasters.
