Portuguese natural park devoured by flames

More than 1,200 firefighters struggled to control a huge forest fire in Portugal’s Serra da Estrela Park, which resumed just days after being brought under control

Photo: www.alarabiya.net

Strong winds have been hampering attempts to combat the spread of the fire, one of 195 that have ravaged some 92,000 hectares of land across Portugal this year amid record temperatures.
The fire in the UNESCO-designated park restarted after being brought under control five days earlier and is estimated to have already consumed around 25,000 hectares of land.
It is still posing a sizeable challenge even if ‘90 percent of this fire’s perimeter is now under control’, said Civil Protection Agency Head Andre Fernandes.
July proved to be Portugal’s hottest in nearly a century, with the country battling its worst forest fires since 2017 when around 100 lives were lost.
The blaze has left 27 people injured, including three seriously, while 45 people have been evacuated as a precaution.
The upcoming heatwave is forecast to last into September, which Carneiro said was set to be drier and hotter than usual.
The upcoming heatwave is forecast to last into September, which Interior Minister Jose Luis Carneiro said was set to be drier and hotter than usual.

Based on the materials of www.theportugalnews.com