Portugal & Spain Declare State of Emergency due to Intensive Heatwave

Portugal declared a state of emergency from Sunday to Thursday due to an intense heatwave threatening to spark widespread wildfires across the country, according to Minister of Internal Administration Maria Lucia Amaral.

Authorities predict that temperatures will range between 36 and 44°C, with a significant drop in humidity levels, which increases the risk of fires in rural areas and forests.

The extraordinary measures imposed by the Portuguese government include:

A ban on entering or staying in forested areas.

A prohibition on lighting fires or carrying out any burning activities.

A ban on the use of heavy machinery in rural areas.

A suspension of all permits related to fireworks or incendiary materials.

These measures coincide with similar preparations in Spain, which is also facing a heatwave that may lead to wildfires in some of the southern and western regions of the country.

Europe is experiencing an unprecedented and catastrophic summer in terms of the intensity of forest fires. High temperatures and drought conditions have sparked thousands of fires that have ravaged vast areas of land. According to the Spanish newspaper La Vanguardia, record levels of greenhouse gas emissions have been recorded that have not been seen in over two decades.

According to the European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS), by the end of July, over 292,000 hectares in EU countries had been consumed by fires—more than double the amount burned in the same period last year, surpassing the average for the past 19 years.