Devastating Wildfires Claim Lives and Wreak Havoc in Portugal
Seven people have lost their lives and more than 50 others have been injured as wildfires sweep through central and northern Portugal, authorities reported. The tragic toll includes three firefighters who perished when their vehicle was trapped by advancing flames. According to Portugal's civil protection service, there are currently 54 wildfires burning across the nation, primarily in the northern regions, with a staggering 5,300 firefighters mobilized to combat the infernos.
In an effort to assist, neighboring countries France, Greece, Italy, and Spain have dispatched eight water bombing planes through the European Union's mutual assistance mechanism. Over 1,000 firefighters battled the blazes through Monday night to try to contain four distinct fires near the towns of Nelas and Aveiro, located south of Porto. Distressing footage showed residents desperately tossing buckets of water on the rapidly advancing flames.
In the region of Aveiro alone, the wildfires have devoured over 10,000 hectares (approximately 24,710 acres) of forest and scrubland within a mere two days, a scale roughly equivalent to the total area burned by fires across Portugal so far this year. National civil protection commander Andre Fernandes reported that the three firefighters—two women and a man—died near Nelas, with four additional casualties recorded on Monday, including a man who was retrieving tools from his shed.
Fernandes indicated late Monday that the ongoing fires, which have necessitated the closure of two railway lines and numerous motorways, could further consume another 20,000 hectares. Experts pointed out that the weather conditions posed the highest fire risk in northern Portugal since 2001, with Fernandes noting that the situation was extremely complex and that Tuesday would likely present further challenges.
In response to the escalating blaze, Portugal's Prime Minister Luís Montenegro canceled his Tuesday appointments, acknowledging the country faces extremely difficult times in the days ahead. An extreme fire warning has been issued and extended until Thursday night. Despite experiencing fewer wildfires compared to last year due to a wet start, both Portugal and Spain have been grappling with soaring temperatures exceeding 30°C (86°F) coupled with exceptionally low humidity and strong winds, which have further exacerbated the flames.
The government has dramatically increased fire prevention funding tenfold and doubled its firefighting budget following devastating blazes in 2017 that resulted in 64 fatalities. Scientists warn that human-induced climate change intensifies extreme weather events worldwide, leading to more frequent and deadly catastrophes—ranging from floods like those witnessed recently in central Europe, to oppressive heatwaves, droughts, and raging wildfires.
Experts assert that human-induced climate breakup is making the occurrence of heatwaves more likely and severe. Some recent heatwaves, including the severe one in western Canada and the United States in 2021, have been deemed nearly impossible without global warming. As Portugal continues to battle these relentless wildfires, the impact of climate change and the urgent need for effective prevention and response strategies remains a vital topic for discussion.
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