The UK has issued a fresh travel warning to Brits in or heading to Portugal due to an ongoing “risk” of forest fires.
More than 100 wildfires have tested thousands of firefighters to the limit in the country, with seven deaths after the worst spate of fires in recent years raged out of control.
Europe’s Copernicus satellite service said over 15,000 hectares (37,000 acres) were scorched and eight miles of fire fronts were detected as of Tuesday (September 17). An area home to 210,000 people had been at risk of being consumed by the flames.
Britain’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) in an update to its travel advice has said the forest fires are now being brought under control.
However, the FCDO cautioned: “There remains a risk of reignition and access to forests and activities in rural areas may still be restricted. Some roads may still be closed.
“Keep up-to-date with developments and follow the advice of the Civil Protection Authority. This travel advice also covers Madeira, Porto Santo and the Azores.”
Thick, grey smoke from the blazes drifted some 50 miles across the border between Portugal and Spain at the height of the wildfires.
Spain sent 240 soldiers and vehicles from its emergency response battalions specialized in combating fires to its neighbour.
Four water-dumping planes from France, two from Spain and two from Italy were deployed after those countries answered an appeal to help their fellow EU member. Morocco also sent two planes used to shower the fires with water.
Portuguese police said earlier this week they had arrested seven men suspected of starting wildfires.
Shocking images show charred houses in rural villages and locals trying to battle flames with buckets of water, hose pipes and large tree branches.
Three firefighters died on Tuesday in their vehicle, while another succumbed to what authorities called a “sudden illness” while on duty.
Three civilians also died, according to civil protection authorities. Health services attended to 10 seriously wounded people and another 49 people with minor injuries, according to Civil Protection official André Fernandes.
Portugal was devasted by huge fires in 2017 which killed more than 120 people.
Experts have linked the fires to climate change and the abandonment of traditional farming and forestry techniques which previously helped keep rural areas clear of the underbrush that has been fuelling fires.
The hot, dry conditions behind the wildfires in Portugal coincided with flooding in central Europe. The European Union said on Wednesday (September 18) the extreme weather phenomena were proof of a climate breakdown.
