Portugal grapples with widespread wildfires

LISBON, July 30 (Xinhua) -- A total of 39 wildfires are currently active across Portugal, including nine major blazes stretching from the north to the south of the country, the National Authority for Emergency and Civil Protection (ANEPC) reported on Wednesday.

The most critical situations have been identified in Penamacor, Arouca, Santarem, and Ponte da Barca, where nearby populations are considered at risk.

Commander Elisio Pereira of the ANEPC told Lusa news agency that protecting communities remains a top priority, saying that the presence of threatened populations "requires a dispersion of resources to prevent fires from reaching homes, which in turn makes firefighting efforts more difficult."

Despite the growing scale of the emergency, ANEPC said it does not anticipate reinforcing ground teams overnight, noting that additional personnel and equipment have already been deployed to the affected zones. As of the latest update, 2,731 operatives and 881 land vehicles were actively engaged in battling the nine largest fires. Twenty people have received medical attention, including 14 firefighters.

According to the European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS), as of Tuesday, 292,855 hectares have burned across the European Union in 2025 - nearly double the historical average of 152,000 hectares - marking the worst year for wildfires in the past five years. In Portugal, an estimated 72,000 hectares have burned, in line with the national annual average.

The fire in Arouca, located in the Aveiro district, is currently drawing the largest mobilization of firefighting resources. Commander Helder Silva, leading relief operations in the area, warned that shifting winds could drive the flames toward residential neighborhoods.

Even more alarming is the situation in Ponte da Barca, in the northern district of Viana do Castelo. Fires there continued to spread rapidly overnight. Mayor Augusto Marinho expressed grave concern over the potential threat to Germil, a village nestled in the Peneda-Geres National Park.

Adding to the challenges, a new wildfire broke out Wednesday morning in Pinhancos, in the municipality of Seia (Guarda district). A force of 171 firefighters supported by six aircraft has been deployed to combat the blaze. Enditem