“Absolutely terrible days ahead”: Portugal enters ‘situation of alert’

Portugal will enter a ‘situation of alert’ from midnight tonight due to the exceptional heat forecast for the next few days.

In a press conference this morning, interior minister Luís Neves repeated his warning of “absolutely terrible days” ahead, with temperatures in some places of 47ºC.

He urged everyone to ‘take precautions’ so that they do not cause a fire that could result in someone else’s death.

Concerns, obviously, centre on the risk of wildfires, which are still breaking out, here and there – and often in circumstances that suggest criminality.

As we write this text, for example, a fire up north in Vouzela (Viseu district) is raging, tackled by over 200 firefighters, dozens of appliances and eight firefighting aircraft, which began at three o’clock in the morning (not a time for fires to break out naturally…)

With temperatures expected to soar between now and Sunday (Neves described forecasts of some places reaching 47ºC) – and winds also in certain areas – the scenario from a wildfire risk perspective could hardly be more grim.

“Absolutely terrible days are coming, with exceptional weather conditions: high temperatures (…) with winds of 70 to 80 kilometres and low humidity levels,” said Neves, describing Portugal as “a powder keg”.

After a meeting with the president Coimbra City Council yesterday, Neves set the scene for everyone to be on heightened awareness.

“Only public awareness and the absence of risky behaviours that pose a danger can prevent and quell” what no-one wants: large wildfires.

That awareness extends to smokers not discarding cigarette butts, and people not parking cars on vegetation (as the slightest spark from engines/ exhausts could start a conflagration).

“The country is facing exceptional conditions and all citizens have a key role to play in prevention,” Neves reiterated.

“We are going to go through tough times, but only unity, only attention, only proactivity, prevention and combat, can allow us to avoid tragedies like those we have had in the past. We are all very committed to this global and collective challenge,” he affirmed.

Situation of Alert – what it entails:

“This declaration primarily concerns, first and foremost, the prohibition of access to and movement within previously designated forest areas; the prohibition of controlled burns and the burning of agricultural residues,” said Neves – adding that it is also “prohibited to carry out work in forest areas using any type of machinery, with the exception of activities associated with fighting rural fires.”

Luís Neves equally suspended the prevention activity of the Integrated Prevention and Operations Command, saying it would now be solely focused on combatting outbreaks of fire

The Integrated Prevention and Operations Command (CIPO) is a coordination structure aimed at reducing the risk of rural fires. Its purpose is to remove combustible material accumulated by storms, clear critical areas, reopen access roads, and improve access routes.

Minister Neves added that “as soon as conditions are restored, this Integrated Command will once again assume the role it had been carrying out.” “I think there is no longer any doubt about what I have said today. This command has no fixed end date.”

The press conference today ended with the words: “I repeat what I said: small moments of negligence turn into great moments of tragedy (…) the nights are going to be tropical (meaning) there will be no opportunity for our forests and woodlands to cool down.”

Also today IPMA (institute of sea and atmosphere) has issued a ‘red warning for heat’ until Sunday for 10 districts along the coast, and in the interior south of the country: Viana do Castelo, Porto, Braga, Coimbra, Aveiro, Leiria, Santarém, Portalegre, Évora and Beja.

Source material: SIC Notícias/ ECO online/ noticiasaominuto