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2024 Portugal wildfires

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2024 Portugal wildfires
NASA satellite image, taken on 17 September, showing the clouds of smoke from the fires in Portugal.
Date(s)15–20 September[1]
LocationCentral and Northern Portugal
Statistics
Total fires1,040+[2]
Total area135,752 hectares (524.1 square miles)[3]
Impacts
Deaths9[4][5]
Non-fatal injuries175[6]
Structures destroyed60[7]
Ignition
CauseExceptionally dry conditions, excessive heat, strong wind gusts, possible arson[8]

The 2024 Portugal wildfires were a series of more than 1,000 wildfires,[2] at least 128 labeled as devastating, that spread through central and northern Portugal between 15 and 20 September 2024,[1] although the fires were controlled by 20 September, authorities and firefighters remained on the ground in order to be vigilant for several more days, burning more than 135,000 hectares of land, resulting in the deaths of at least nine people[5] - 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

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See also: 2024 European heatwaves

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.[9] Blazes reached Albergaria-a-Velha in Aveiro District and burned down multiple houses.[10]

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.[9][10] At the same time, police has also arrested several people for suspected arson which, combined with the unusual weather and high temperature conditions, aggravated considerably the scale of the wildfires.[11]

Impact

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At least nine people were killed due to the wildfires,[5] including three firefighters who were trapped inside a vehicle in Tábua,[12] and five civilians.[13] Portuguese police found the body of a victim of the wildfires, who worked at a logging company and was helping rescuing material when the fire came.[14] 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.[9][10][15] Twelve more firefighters were injured while combating blazes, four of whom were injured severely.[9]

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.[15]

Response

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Satellite image showing the burned areas after the fires were controlled.

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.[10] At least 70 residents were forced to evacuate in the Aveiro region.[9]

Over 5,000 firefighters and 1,500 fire engines were assigned to combat spreading fires across the nation.[9] 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.[10] 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.[9]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Carvalho, Joana Mourão (26 September 2024). "Incêndios em Portugal: 500 milhões de euros em fundos europeus para cobrir prejuízos". Euronews (in Portuguese). Retrieved 9 October 2024.
  2. ^ a b Jerónimo, Mariana (19 September 2024). "Ministra da Administração Interna fala pela primeira vez ao país". SIC Notícias (in Portuguese). Retrieved 19 September 2024.
  3. ^ Lusa, Agência (21 September 2024). "Cerca de 135 mil hectares arderam nos incêndios entre domingo e sexta-feira". SIC Notícias (in Portuguese). Retrieved 21 September 2024.
  4. ^ "Número de mortos nos incêndios sobe para oito". SIC Notícias (in Portuguese). 23 September 2024. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  5. ^ a b c "Subiu para nove número de mortos nos incêndios". SIC Notícias (in Portuguese). 23 September 2024. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
  6. ^ "Fogos em Portugal mataram nove pessoas. Época mais crítica termina hoje". Jornal de Notícias (in Portuguese). 30 September 2024. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
  7. ^ "Governo promete 'apoios públicos abundantes' para pagar 85% da recuperação de casas ardidas". Expresso (in Portuguese). 17 September 2024. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
  8. ^ 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 (in Portuguese). Retrieved 19 September 2024.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g Burgess, Jack; Dean, Grace (2024-09-16). "Portugal: Thousands of firefighters battle 'raging' wildfires". BBC News. Retrieved 2024-09-16.
  10. ^ 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.
  11. ^ "PJ aumenta na última semana as detenções de suspeitos de atear fogos". Diário de Notícias da Madeira (in Portuguese). Agência Lusa. 20 September 2024. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
  12. ^ Burgess, Jack; Dean, Grace (September 17, 2024). "Three firefighters die tackling Portugal wildfires". BBC News.
  13. ^ Alves, Helena; Wilson, Joseph (September 19, 2024). "Portugal declares a state of calamity as wildfires rage out of control". Associated Press.
  14. ^ "Brasileiro de 28 anos morre carbonizado num incêndio florestal em Portugal". Público (in Portuguese). 2024-09-16. Retrieved 2024-09-20.
  15. ^ a b "Portugal asks EU for assistance as wildfire reaches residential area". euronews. 2024-09-16. Retrieved 2024-09-16.
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