The European Commission (EC) said on Monday that “Portugal has mobilized its fire brigade to fight deforestation” as residents left their homes in dangerous zones.
Climate experts in Portugal say temperatures could reach 113 degrees Fahrenheit (45 degrees Fahrenheit) on Tuesday in the region between Alentejo – Lisbon and Algarve, Sky News reported. Strong winds of up to 40 miles per hour are also forecast in different regions. Local media reported on Monday that the fires in Santrem, Lria and Villa Real are “extremely serious.”
Forest fires in the Atlantic Ocean are not uncommon in Portugal. Spain sent two firefighting planes to Portugal on Sunday He said. He was “ready to provide further assistance.”
Experts say that at a time when mankind is struggling to cope with the effects of climate change, high temperatures and seasonal warming will only increase. Last month, a historic tropical storm across Europe broke records in France and Spain, reaching unprecedented temperatures of 104 degrees Celsius in June.
Scientists say climate change is prolonging Portugal’s “wildfire season” by two to five months, the BBC reports. A.D. In 2017, more than 100 people died in a series of wildfires that sparked widespread condemnation of its response to forest fires. Some emergency workers complained of lack of materials, while others said the forests were not being properly maintained or protected.
The current At the national level, a state of emergency is prohibited for people in high-risk areas and farmers are asked not to use machinery that could cause fires.
Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa tweeted. At the end of the week“Please do not start a fire and do not use machines.”
The Associated Press reports that the use of fireworks during holidays and holidays is prohibited due to extreme heat and drought.
In some areas the fire broke out quickly. One witness told the BBC on Monday: “Suddenly, a lot of smoke, suddenly the old house lit up.
Last month, wildfires erupted near Spain and other parts of the country after days of intense heat. The highest temperature in Rome was 105 degrees Fahrenheit (40.6 degrees Fahrenheit).
Poland and Austria, a country with a lack of air conditioning, have also been hit by unusual temperatures – a threat to the elderly and homeless.
“Britain is not really ready for the heat,” said Hannah Clock, a climate scientist at the University of Reading.
