More than 5,000 firefighters have been battling wildfires that Portugal’s prime minister said were “raging across the country”.
Louis Montenegro names João Silva, a firefighter who died of a “sudden illness” while fighting a fire in Oliveira de Azeméis .
Temperatures in Portugal exceeded 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit) over the weekend and are expected to remain hot over the coming days. At least two people died as a result of the fire, local media reported.
Portuguese authorities said the risk of wildfires could be highest in many of the country’s central and northern regions as of Wednesday, and that the threat remained “very high” as of Friday.
Portugal’s Lusa news agency said 10,000 hectares (37 square miles) of land between Porto and Aveiro in the north had been burned.
As of 23:00 BST, there were 128 active wildfires across the country.
Local media reported that hospitals in the affected areas had received people with burns, breathing difficulties and other injuries caused by the fires.
Police have closed highways, including the main road between the capital Lisbon and Porto.
At least 12 firefighters were injured, two of them seriously.
Montenegro expresses its “deepest condolences” to João Silva’s family, friends and fellow firefighters.
The European Union will send eight firefighting aircraft to Portugal to help the country deal with serious fires.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the EU was “urgently mobilizing” and urged other member states to provide further assistance.
The Prime Minister of Portugal also posted a message on X thanking France, Greece, Italy and Spain for their “quick and important help in combating this scourge”.
Portugal already has 30 water bombers and more than 1,500 fire trucks deployed, but authorities say the complex situation requires additional support.
French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said France had agreed to deploy two water bombers. Lisbon officials expected two more planes to arrive from Spain on Monday.
“This is the best unity of the European Union,” von der Leyen said.
Civil protection authorities said multiple fires broke out in the Aveiro area over the weekend, forcing about 70 residents to flee.
“The situation is not out of control, but it is very complex,” said National Civil Protection Commander Andre Fernandez, adding that tomorrow “will be a difficult day”.
He plans to maintain a red alert for the current hot weather in mainland Portugal.
António Loureiro, the mayor of Old Albergaria, said that as the fire raged, four houses around the town were burned and 20 others were in danger.
Two other houses were destroyed in Cabeseras de Basto in the Braga region, local authorities said, AFP reported.
Portugal and neighboring Spain have seen fewer wildfires this year, largely due to a wet and rainy start to the year. But they are still prone to fires due to hot and dry conditions.
Climate change increases the risk of hot, dry weather that could fuel wildfires.
Global temperatures have increased by about 1.1 degrees Celsius since the beginning of the industrial era and will continue to rise if steps are not taken quickly to curb greenhouse gas emissions.
