Catastrophic forest fire tragically razes over an unprecedented 64,000 hectares.
Portugal Battles Largest Forest Fire on Record, Receives International Aid
Portugal is currently grappling with its largest forest fire ever, which has destroyed homes, crops, and ravaged a total of around 278,000 hectares. This surpasses the previous record of 53,000 hectares from October 2017, according to Commander Telmo Ferreira, the spokesperson of the National Civil Protection Authority.
The devastating fire, which occurred at the junction of the districts of Coimbra, Guarda, and Castelo Branco, has been burning for 11 days. In the disastrous year of 2017, over 563,000 hectares burned in fires that claimed 119 lives in Portugal.
Portugal experienced a record year for forest fires in 2017, and this summer, the country has been affected by devastating forest fires, resulting in four deaths and several injuries. However, on Monday, Portugal found some respite from the fire front, with no major fires recorded by civil protection.
The fire has been a significant challenge, and around 3,500 firefighters were involved in the efforts, supported by about 20 aircraft and helicopters. Sweden sent two firefighting planes, and France provided two Canadair water bombers to assist Portugal in combating the severe wildfires, as part of the European Union's disaster protection mechanism.
Data from the European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS) indicates these figures. Experts attribute the frequency and scale of forest fires in Portugal to climate change, as the Iberian Peninsula is severely affected by heatwaves and longer droughts, drying out vegetation and thus favoring forest fires.
In response to the scale of the fires, the government has announced a series of urgent measures for affected populations. These include funding for the reconstruction of destroyed primary residences and aid for farmers. The government's efforts aim to provide support and help communities recover from the devastating effects of the fires.
While the numbers are expected to be reduced in the coming hours, the battle against the forest fires is far from over. Portugal continues to face the challenges posed by climate change, and the threat of forest fires remains a significant concern for the country.
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