At least seven people, including three firefighters, have died as wildfires ravage Portugal, according to local reports. The fires have been burning since the weekend, with temperatures exceeding 30°C (86°F), primarily affecting northern and central regions. The three firefighters – Sonia Cláudia Melo, Paulo Jorge Santos, and Susana Cristina Carvalho – died while battling a blaze in Tábua, central Portugal, according to the civil protection authority.
Over 5,000 firefighters have been deployed to tackle the wildfires, which Portuguese Prime Minister Luís Montenegro said are spreading across the country. So far, 10,000 hectares (37 square miles) have burned between Porto and Aveiro.
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As of Tuesday, 65 fires were still active, with hospitals receiving people suffering from burns, breathing problems, and other injuries. At least 12 firefighters have been injured, two seriously, and motorways have been closed, including the main road between Lisbon and Porto.
Portugal’s civil protection authority confirmed the firefighters’ deaths after their vehicle caught fire, though it is unclear if it crashed beforehand. President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa expressed his sadness over the deaths, and Montenegro extended his condolences. The European Union has sent eight firefighting planes, with France, Greece, Italy, and Spain also offering aid, while Portugal has deployed over 1,500 fire engines.
Wildfires have forced 70 residents in the Aveiro region to evacuate since the weekend. While the situation is not out of control, it remains complex. Despite fewer wildfires this year due to a wet start, Portugal and Spain remain vulnerable to hot, dry conditions, exacerbated by climate change, which increases the risk of wildfires. Global temperatures continue to rise unless rapid efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions are made.
