Portugal has raised the fire alert level as a mass of hot air from North Africa, which arrived Sunday, brings “considerably severe hot weather” until Wednesday and heightens fire risk across the country.
Minister of Internal Administration Maria Lúcia Amaral has announced that mainland Portugal will be under an orange alert, the second highest on a scale of three, Euronews reports.
Expected temperatures for most of the country range between 36°C and 40°C, while the forecasts for the interior of the Alentejo, the Tagus Valley and the Douro Valley are even higher, between 41°C and 44°C. Such severe heat, combined with low levels of humidity, means that “preventive and special measures” to mitigate fire risk will remain in effect until 7 August.
The measures include prohibiting access to forest spaces, use of machinery in forest areas, use of certain machinery in other rural areas, use of fireworks or other pyrotechnic devices, as well prohibitions against burning, even in cases where previously authorised.
[See more: Fuelled by climate change, wildfires are sweeping across Europe]
The southern Faro district is the only one in mainland Portugal to retain a lower, yellow warning. Maximum temperatures in the Algarve, where Faro is located, are expected to drop on Monday and extend into Tuesday, according to Portuguese meteorologists.
The rest of the coast may see similar relief. The northern Portuguese districts of Porto, Braga, Bragança, Viana do Castelo and Vila Real, however, will be on red alert on Monday.
Amaral warned residents that the coming days would be difficult, but offered assurance that “firefighting equipment is ready and mobilised” and the operational response capabilities of security forces “will be reinforced with increased surveillance, more inspection and more patrols.”
She stressed that “Conscious and preventive action by everyone is essential.” Even before her announcement, nearly 40 wildfires were burning across Portugal, with more than 2,700 personnel and 881 land vehicles deployed to combat the nine largest.
