The National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority of Portugal confirmed that three firefighters died on Tuesday while battling forest fires affecting several areas of the country, raising the total number of fatalities to seven.
Speaking to the press, Commander André Fernandes said that the three new victims are two women and a man, who were trapped in the flames in Nelas, in the center of the country.
The wave of fires began last weekend, with the greatest impact in regions located in the center and north of the country.
So far, the authorities have reported 65 active fires, of which the greatest concern is those recorded in the border area between the district of Aveiro and the metropolitan area of Porto.
Authorities mobilized nearly 5 personnel to fight the fires, as well as 700 land vehicles and 29 air vehicles.
State of calamity
The Portuguese Government has declared a state of emergency in the municipalities affected by the fires.
The decision was taken at an extraordinary Council of Ministers. This legal figure allows for the adoption of exceptional measures to prevent, act or restore normality.
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2024-09-20 12:57:46
