The EU comes to their aid in trying to put out the 36 fires that are ravaging the country

Portugal is burning. The Portuguese government has asked the European Union for help on Monday to combat the 36 simultaneous forest fires that are ravaging the centre and north of the country. After activating the European Civil Protection Mechanism, the bloc has announced that it is mobilising eight amphibious aircraft to help with the firefighting efforts. In parallel, Spain, France, Italy and Greece too They will send a total of eight Canadair planes to put out the fires that, for the moment, have already left One firefighter dead, 17 injuredthree of them in serious condition, and dozens evacuated.

The Portuguese Ministry of the Interior has confirmed that Each country will send a pair of planes and the Spanish media are expected to arrive on Portuguese soil at around 5:00 p.m. local time.

The Portuguese Executive declared this Sunday the Alert situation due to high risk of forest fire throughout the continental territory of the country, which has been evidenced by strong fires that have caused the evacuation of dozens of people and the closure of several roads.

The national commander of the Emergency and Civil Protection Authority (ANEPC), André Fernandes, explained this Monday in a press conference that there are no civilians among the victims of the fires, with 36 spotlights Throughout the territory, they are being fought by 645 ground means, 32 air means and more than 3,000 troops.

Much of the efforts are concentrated in the municipality of Oliveira de Azeméis and its surroundings, in the district of Aveiro (north of the country), where a fire has caused the death of a firefighter and left four others injured, three of them seriously. According to local media, The deceased agent went into cardiorespiratory arrest during a break from fighting the flames.

Authorities have also been forced to cut off seven roads for safety reasons and motorways in the region, including the A1, A29, A25 and EN238, and have asked the public to avoid these areas.

Montenegro cancels its agenda

Portugal’s Prime Minister Luís Montenegro has cancelled his schedule for Monday and Tuesday to oversee coordination of the firefighting effort, his cabinet said in a statement.

He has also maintained contacts with leaders of the European Union and European partners to “ensure the necessary international support” through the European Civil Protection Mechanism, and posted a message on his official X profile to thank them for this help.

Portugal and Spain have recorded fewer fires than usual after a rainy start to the year, but Both countries remain vulnerable to the increasingly adverse and dry weather conditions that scientists attribute to the global warming.