Nearly a month after wildfires blazed on the Portuguese island of Madeira, more fires have broken out in mainland Portugal. Seven people have reportedly died in the fires, which were spreading between the northern district of Aveiro and Porto last week.
Understandably, those with a trip booked might be worried about whether visiting Portugal right now is safe. Here’s everything we know so far about the fires and the latest advice for UK and US travellers.
Where are the fires in Portugal?
The fires began to spread in the northern and central regions of Portugal on Monday September 16, leading to several towns being evacuated. The north-western Aveiro district saw the worst of the blaze, with fires reaching the outskirts of the town of Albergaria-a-Velha.
A portion of the highway connecting Porto and Lisbon was been closed off, and several train lines in the north of the country were suspended. Around 5,300 firefighters were tackling the blaze at one point.
Has Porto or the Algarve been impacted by the fires?
The fires are not impacting southern Portugal, so the Algarve has not been affected. However, Porto is much closer to the affected region, and the main highway between the city and Lisbon was been closed. Also, according to the Guardian, wildfires in the Aveiro district and in Porto have led to dozens of houses being destroyed and more local road closures.
What started the fires?
Despite a wet and rainy start to the summer season, meaning fewer recorded wildfires across Spain and Portugal compared to previous years, temperatures in Portugal reached 30C (86F) over the weekend, and fires spread across dry land and were fanned by strong winds.
However, seven people have been arrested since Sunday September 15 in connection with a number of fires that may have been deliberately started. ‘We know that there are natural phenomena and circumstances of negligence that facilitate the outbreak of forest fires, but there are too many coincidences,’ said Prime Minister Luis Montenegro, according to Le Monde.
Is it safe to travel?
Neither the UK government nor the US Department of State has officially advised against travelling to Portugal, though the FCDO has added a section on forest fires to its Portugal advice page:
‘The forest fires which have been burning in Portugal over the last few days are now being brought under control by the Portuguese authorities. 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.’
If you have a trip booked near or in the region and want to cancel or postpone your travels, your best bet is to contact your trip provider to see what can be done.
Extreme weather in Europe
Extreme weather events and natural disasters have plagued Europe this summer. This week, central Europe experienced severe flooding as Storm Boris swept through countries including Austria, Poland, Czechia and Romania. The storm has now reached Italy.
Three weeks ago, Lisbon and the surrounding region experienced a 5.3 magnitude earthquake.
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