In the grip of a series of fires, Lisbon is calling on other EU members to help fight the flames. Portugal, which already has around thirty water-bombing planes and helicopters, has “requested the support of the European Civil Protection Mechanism” in order to obtain more air resources.
France will thus send two Canadair aircraft from Tuesday, September 17 “to help our Portuguese friends in the context of cooperation with the European Union,” announced the resigning Minister of the Interior, Gérald Darmanin, on Monday.
On her X account, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced Monday afternoon that “eight firefighting aircraft” would be mobilized. She also thanked France, Greece, Italy and Spain for their “rapid reaction.”
Portuguese Prime Minister Luis Montenegro, who has cancelled his engagements until Tuesday, said in a statement that he was following “the coordination of the fight against the fires” and that he remained “in contact with his European partners”. He also called on people in the regions affected by the fires to “follow the instructions of the security services”.
More than 2,300 firefighters mobilized
On Monday, around twenty active fires mobilized more than 2,300 firefighters, while the National Civil Protection Authority placed the country on “alert situation” between Saturday afternoon and Tuesday evening, because the risk of fire is considered “very high” or “maximum” depending on the region, due to forecasts of high temperatures and strong winds.
The wildfires that have been raging since the weekend have so far caused two deaths and several injuries, according to the latest report from civil protection services. One person died of burns while another suffered a heart attack, the National Civil Protection Authority told local media.
One of the victims was a 28-year-old Brazilian man who worked for a forestry company. He was reportedly trapped by the flames while trying to retrieve tools, according to a police statement quoted by the Lusa agency.
In addition, a volunteer firefighter who was fighting a fire near Oliveira de Azeméis, in the Aveiro region, died “suddenly” during a meal break on Sunday, the Interior Ministry said on Monday. A total of 12 firefighters were injured, two of them seriously.
Original article published on BFMTV.com
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