Firefighters battle a wildfire in Carrascal, Proenca a Nova, Portugal on Aug 6, 2023. (PHOTO / AFP)
ODEMIRA, Portugal – Hundreds of firefighters scrambled on Tuesday to put out a blaze raging in southern Portugal that has scorched thousands of hectares of land and forced the evacuation of around 1,400 people.
The wildfire, currently being tackled by over 850 firefighters and six water-bombing planes, started on Saturday in the municipality of Odemira, in the Alentejo region, but has since spread south towards the Algarve, one of Portugal's top tourist destinations.
High temperatures and strong winds have complicated efforts to fight the flames, which have destroyed around 6,700 hectares of land. Jose Ribeiro, commander of the emergency and civil protection authority, said weather conditions were expected to remain a challenge
High temperatures and strong winds have complicated efforts to fight the flames, which have destroyed around 6,700 hectares of land. Jose Ribeiro, commander of the emergency and civil protection authority, said weather conditions were expected to remain a challenge.
Shortly before sunset on Monday, the sky in Odemira turned dark as a huge smoke cloud filled the air.
Odemira's mayor, Helder Guerreiro, called the situation "critical, difficult and complex" while Ribeiro said there was a "lot of work" ahead to bring the wildfire under control.
ALSO READ: Scientists: Climate change role in July heatwaves 'overwhelming'
"It is a worrying situation," Ribeiro told reporters during a morning briefing, adding there were two active fronts, with one heading to Monchique, a lush green mountainous area in the Algarve's countryside.
Monchique, which last burned in 2018, is popular among locals and tourists due to its thermal springs and hotels.
A total of 19 tiny villages, one of them in Monchique, four tourist accommodations and a camping site have been evacuated out of precaution. Several roads have been blocked off, authorities said.
Southern European countries such as Portugal have been grappling with record-breaking temperatures during the peak summer tourist season, prompting authorities to warn of health risks.
Scientists say heat waves are becoming more frequent, intense and spread out across seasons due to climate change.
READ MORE: Hot, dusty and on fire: Portugal's heatwave breaks records
Three districts in Portugal's north were placed under red alert on Tuesday as temperatures were expected to rise to 41 Celsius (105.8 Fahrenheit) in the northern city of Castelo Branco. In Alentejo, thermometers should reach 40 C in Evora and 38 C in Beja.
Authorities have declared more than 120 municipalities across Portugal, including in Lisbon, Alentejo and Algarve, at maximum risk of wildfires.
"The weather conditions we are going to experience in the coming days means any small occurrence (fire) could become a big one," Civil Protection secretary of state Patricia Gaspar told a news conference.
