Firefighters battle wildfires in Portugal amid scorching heat
Lisbon, Jul 10 (EFE).- Firefighters on Sunday were battling wildfires in central and northern Portugal amid soaring temperatures.
The country’s National Authority for Civil Protection said nearly 1,500 troops, 500 vehicles and 15 airplanes were working to contain eight fires that have been burning since midday.
In the central town of Ourém, more than 700 firefighters are trying to extinguish a fire that has been raging since Thursday.
About 40 kilometers north of Ourém, the fire in Pombal has affected three municipalities since it broke out on Friday, with almost 450 firefighters trying to put it off.
Authorities have warned that current weather patterns, including temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius, strong winds, dry thunderstorms and drought, increase the risk of fires.
The Portuguese government has declared a state of contingency starting Monday which will last until Friday.
On Saturday, 125 forest fires were recorded, the highest figure in 2022, according to the Civil Protection agency. EFE
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