Foreign Office urgent warning to Portugal travellers as three die in fire outbreak
UK officials issue alert as more than 5,000 firefighters have been tackling wildfires that Portugal's Prime Minister has said are "raging across the country"
The Foreign Office this afternoon issued an urgent alert for anyone travelling to Portugal. The country has been hit by a lethal outbreak of blazes which have left at least three dead.
The government in Portugal has issued a state of alert, and appealed to other countries to help them fight the multiple fires. In an update today the Foreign Office said: “There are currently a significant number of forest fires burning in several parts of Portugal. The Portuguese government has declared a state of Alert until 11:59pm on Thursday 19 September. Access to forests and activities in rural areas may be restricted. Roads may be closed due to smoke and ash.
“The situation is fast-moving and could change rapidly. Keep up-to-date with developments and follow the advice of the Civil Protection Authority.” More than 5,000 firefighters have been tackling wildfires that Portugal’s Prime Minister has said are “raging across the country”.
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Portugal is going through difficult days due to wild fires.@vonderleyen, thank you. We stand together.
— Luís Montenegro (@LMontenegropm) September 16, 2024
Thank you also to France (@EmmanuelMacron and @MichelBarnier), Greece (@kmitsotakis), Italy (@GiorgiaMeloni) and Spain (@sanchezcastejon) for their quick and fundamental help…
One firefighter had died of “a sudden illness” while battling a blaze in Oliveira de Azeméis. Temperatures in Portugal exceeded 30C (86F) over the weekend and will continue to be very high this week. 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. There are 128 active wildfires across the country as of Tuesday.
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. 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 Louis Montenegro also thanked France, Greece, Italy and Spain for their “rapid and essential help in combating this scourge” in a post on X.
