According to preliminary data from the Institute for Conservation of Nature and Forests (ICNF), wildfires have engulfed 43,721 hectares this year, about 30,000 of them since July 8.
Preliminary data collected by the ICNF until this Monday shows that there have been 6,461 rural fires this year, burning 43,721 hectares, 51% of forest plantations, 38% of shrubs and 12% of agricultural land.
On July 8, as fire risk increased due to rising temperatures, the ICNF indicated that 12,473 ha had burned since January 1, meaning that 39,948 ha had burned in 11 days.
According to a report from the Agency for Integrated Rural Fire Management (AGIF), 8,223 rural fires occurred in 2021, burning 28,415 hectares.
According to ICNF, this year’s fire area is the largest since the Pedrogan Grande fire in 2017, and the second largest since 2013.
This Monday, mainland Portugal went on high alert, the lowest level of response under the Civil Protection Basic Law, after a seven-day stay in an emergency situation (intermediate level between alert and natural disaster) due to the extreme risk of fire in the countryside. and high temperatures.
The alarm situation will last until 23:59 Tuesday, the day when the situation will be reassessed.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
