Portugal fires - live: Fears of new wildfires as blistering 37C heat sparks warnings over extreme weather

Portuguese authorities fear new wildfires could spark as blistering 37C heat has provoked extreme weather warnings.

Yellow warnings - the lowest level on a three-tier scale - will remain in place across the Beja and Faro districts until 10 August at the minimum, with the Met Office anticipating that, on Friday, temperatures will reach highs of 37C across Faro in the Algarve region of southern Portugal.

Vitor Vaz Pinto, regional commander of the emergency and civil protection authority (ANEPC), said on Wednesday the wildfire in the municipality of Odemira, in the Alentejo region, was brought under control at 10.15am.

For now, firefighters, water-dousing planes and bulldozers being used to prevent the spread of the fire will remain on the ground and then gradually be demobilised, Vaz Pinto said.

Temperatures have now dropped along the Portuguese coast but remain high across the countryside, with around 100 municipalities remaining at maximum risk of wildfires.

A huge blaze that erupted over the weekend, razing thousands of hectares of forest in southern Portugal, is now under control though authorities said firefighters would remain on the ground as a precaution in case of flareups.

Vitor Vaz Pinto, regional commander of the emergency and civil protection authority (ANEPC), said on Wednesday the wildfire in the municipality of Odemira, in the Alentejo region, was brought under control at 10.15 a.m. local time (0915 GMT).

The wildfire started on Saturday, but high temperatures and strong winds hampered efforts by more than 1,000 firefighters and water-dousing planes to extinguish the flames, which destroyed some 8,400 hectares, according to preliminary data.

The weather conditions helped the blaze spread south towards the Algarve, one of Portugal‘s top tourist destinations, and forced the evacuation of about 1,400 people, most of whom have returned home.

For now, firefighters, water-dousing planes and bulldozers being used to prevent the spread of the fire will remain on the ground and then gradually be demobilised, Vaz Pinto said.

Vaz Pinto said firefighters would keep a close eye on the southern front of the wildfire, near Monchique, a lush green mountainous area in the Algarve’s countryside, as there were still concerns it could reignite.

This summer, most southern European countries have been grappling with record-breaking temperatures during the peak tourist season, prompting authorities to warn of health risks.

Like other nations in Southern Europe, Portugal experienced high temperatures in recent days, with thermometers exceeding 40 Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) in various parts of the country.

Temperatures have now dropped along the Portuguese coast but remain high across the countryside. Around 100 Portuguese municipalities are at maximum risk of wildfires.

The wildfire in Odemira was considered under control at 10.15am on Wednesday morning, according to reports by Portuguese media.

“There is not much active flame and what exists is inside the burnt [land]. We are in a position to declare the fire under control. We have some points that deserve some attention. We’re going to have a lot of reactivations during the day because the wind has changed quadrants”, Vítor Vaz Pinto, regional commander of the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority (ANEPC) said, Publico reports.

8,400 hectares have burned, smaller than forecast on Tuesday, with 15 aircraft and 320 vehicles remaining on site.

Hundreds of firefighters have scrambled to put out wildfires now raging in Portugal as temperatures topped 46C during the country’s third heatwave of the year.

The blaze began on Saturday in the municipality of Odemira, in the Alentejo region, but it has now spread south towards the Algarve.

One of the country’s most popular tourist destinations, it is currently being fought by over 800 firefighters, at least nine of whom have been injured.

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Nineteen villages, four tourist resorts and a campsite have been evacuated and roads cordoned off as wildfires rage across southern Portugal.

Ana Costa, a local farmer, said of the fires: “It was terrible, there were flames everywhere and we had to scramble. Nobody was there to help us, thankfully I had three friends who came to help”, MailOnline reports.

Following wildfires near Cascais last month, Portugal is once again being hit by raging flames.

This time, blazes have broken out near the popular holiday region of the Algarve in southern Portugal.

The fire started on Saturday 5 August in the Odemira area north of the Algarve, and since then has swept south.

My colleague Helen Coffey reports:

The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office has confirmed its staff ‘stand ready’ to support British tourists in Portugal as wildfires ravage the south of the country.

“We have not been approached for consular assistance, but our staff stand ready to support British Nationals overseas 24/7”, a spokesperson told The Independent.

Extreme heat and billowing winds have created the perfect storm for fires to rip through swathes of land in Portugal and Italy.

Portugal is facing wildfires raging across the south of the country, with more than 850 firefighters battling to put out the flames. The first wildfire started in the municipality of Odemira, in the Alentejo region on Saturday, but it has since spread south towards the Algarve.

The local mayor confirmed that there are two active fronts in both Odemira and Monchique. Monchique, a lush green mountainous area in the Algarve’s countryside, last burned in 2018. It is popular amongst locals and tourists due to its thermal springs and hotels.

Elsewhere in the country, a fire broke out in Ourém, in the district of Santarém, on Sunday but has since been brought under control. A nearby fire in the district of Leiria - in Caranguejeira and Arrabal - was extinguished on Tuesday morning.

Odemira’s mayor, Helder Guerreiro, called the situation “critical, difficult and complex” while Jose Ribeiro, commander of the emergency and civil protection authority, said there was a “lot of work” ahead to bring the wildfire under control.

The Portugal wildfires have now scorched thousands of hectares of land and forced the evacuation of around 1,400 people.

Holiday firm Tui said it has swung to a third-quarter profit for the first time since the beginning of the pandemic after seeing very high demand for holiday travel.

The heatwave leading to crippling temperatures in parts of Europe and wildfires in the southern of the continent only “dampened temporarily” demand for trips to the Mediterranean, the group said.

Tui reported underlying group earnings before interest and tax of 169 million euros (£145 million) in the third quarter, up from a loss of 27 million euros (£23 million) this time last year.

Revenues surged by nearly a fifth over the period and summer bookings have been 6% higher compared to last year, partly due to higher prices, the firm reported.

“The Mediterranean remains the most sought-after destination for summer holidays.

“The heatwave in Northern Europe in June and the wildfires in southern Europe have only dampened temporarily the previously strong development - but overall it will be a very good travel summer and a good year for Tui in 2023.

“We are investing today to continue to significantly grow profitably in the future.”

Tui’s chief executive Sebastian Ebel said: “Summer 2023 is going very well and demand for holidays remains high.

Wildfires have ravaged two countries in Europe this week, forcing thousands of evacuations as firefighters battle on in tinderbox conditions.

Extreme heat and billowing winds have created the perfect storm for fires to rip through swathes of land in Portugal and Italy.

Portugal is facing wildfires raging across the south of the country, with more than 850 firefighters battling to put out the flames.

Here’s the map showing where the fires are: