Thousands of firefighters battle ‘raging’ wildfires across Portugal

Lisbon: More than 5,000 firefighters have been tackling wildfires that Portugal’s Prime Minister has said are “raging across the country”.

Louis Montenegro named one firefighter who had died of “a sudden illness” while battling a blaze in Oliveira de Azeméis as João Silva.

Temperatures in Portugal exceeded 30C (86F) over the weekend and are expected to remain elevated for days. At least two people have died due to the fires, according to local media reports.

Portuguese authorities say there is the highest possible risk of wildfires breaking out across many central and northern regions of the country through to Wednesday – with the threat remaining “very high” until Friday.

Ten thousand hectares (37 sq miles) have already been burned between Porto and Aveiro in the north, the Portuguese news agency Lusa said.

As of 23:00 BST, there were 128 active wildfires across the country.

Local media reports that hospitals in affected areas have received people with burns, breathing difficulties and other injuries from the fires.

Police have shut motorways, including the main road between the capital, Lisbon, and Porto.

At least 12 firefighters have been injured, two seriously.

Montenegro expressed his “deepest condolences” to the family, friends and fellow firefighters of João Silva.

The EU will send eight firefighting planes to Portugal to help the country tackle the severe blazes.

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the bloc was “urgently mobilising” and urged other member states to send further assistance.

The Portuguese prime minister also thanked France, Greece, Italy and Spain for their “rapid and essential help in combating this scourge” in a post on X.

Portugal already owns 30 water bombers – and has deployed over 1,500 fire engines – but authorities said the complex situation required additional support.

France has agreed to deploy two water bombers, the French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said. Officials in Lisbon expect two more to arrive on Monday from Spain.

“This is EU solidarity at its best,” von der Leyen said.

Several fires that broke out in the Aveiro region over the weekend forced about 70 residents to flee, the civil protection authority has said.

“The situation is not out of control, but it is very complex,” national civil protection commander Andre Fernandes said. He added that tomorrow “will be a difficult day”.

He plans to keep the red alert for hot weather currently in place across mainland Portugal.

The Mayor of Albergaria-a-Velha, António Loureiro, said four houses had burned down and 20 more are at risk around the town as the fires rage.

Two other homes have been destroyed at Cabeceiras de Basto, in the area of Braga.

Portugal and neighbouring Spain have recorded fewer wildfires this year, largely due to a wet and rainy start to the year. But they remain vulnerable to blazes due to hot and dry conditions.

Climate change increases the risk of the hot, dry weather that is likely to fuel wildfires.

The world has already warmed by about 1.1C since the industrial era began and temperatures will keep rising unless rapid efforts to curb greenhouse gas emissions are made.