Portugal fires - live: Fears of new wildfires as blistering 37C heat sparks warnings over extreme weather
Though the Odemira wildfire was tamed on Wednesday morning, 100 municipalities remain at maximum risk
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Your support makes all the difference.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.
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.
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.
The biggest blaze, in the northeast, burned about 600 hectares (1,500 acres) and required the evacuation of 150 people.
Europe wildfires map shows where devastating blazes are sweeping Portugal and Italy
Portugal wildfires see thousands of people evacuated amid 46C heatwave
Temperatures soar in Iberia as wildfires force the evacuation of 1,400 in Portugal
Wildfires in Portugal: Is it safe to travel to the Algarve right now?
Thanks for following our live updates, we are pausing our coverage for now.
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Mr Labrador emphasised that the ongoing heatwaves and wildfires across the globe transpire “in the context of the hottest July ever recorded”.
“The temperatures in July were 0.72 degrees Celsius warmer than the 1991 to 2020 period and 1.5 degrees warmer than the pre-industrial era,” he said.
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ICYMI: Portugal wildfires see thousands of people evacuated amid 46C heatwave
Hundreds of firefighters are battling wildfires in Portugal where 1,400 people have been evacuated in a 46C heatwave.
The wildfire started on Saturday in the Odemira region on the west coast but it has since spread south towards the tourist hotspot of the Algarve.
Nine have reportedly been injured as a result of the fire.
High temperatures and strong winds have continued into Tuesday with two active fronts of the fire have now been confirmed – with one spreading towards the picturesque Monchique village.
Portugal wildfires see thousands evacuated amid 46C heatwave
British holidays still going ahead despite flames hitting beauty spots on tourist trail
Wildfires in Portugal: Is it safe to travel to the Algarve right now?
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.
Some 800 firefighters have been brought in to tackle the flames, while more than 1,400 people have so far been evacuated from their homes.
Around 6,700 hectares of land have already been destroyed by the blaze, which has been difficult to control amid soaring temperatures and high winds.
Is it safe to travel to Portugal right now?
Wildfires have broken out near the popular holiday region
More than 1,400 people forced to flee flames
At least 1,400 people in Portugal were forced to leave villages and a camp site as a precaution, as more than 1,000 firefighters battled three major fires:
Temperatures soar in Iberia as wildfires force the evacuation of 1,400 in Portugal
Over 1,000 firefighters are battling a series of wildfires in Portugal as it and neighboring Spain experience several days of extreme summer heat with temperatures in many areas rising above 40 degrees Celsius (104 F)
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Wildfires fanned by the winds of a distant hurricane killed at least six people and caused extensive damage on Hawaii’s Maui island on Wednesday, officials said.
The western side of the island, including the tourist resort of Lahaina, was nearly cut off, with only one highway still open, as officials told of widespread devastation.
West Maui was closed to everyone except emergency workers.
Panicked people fleeing the flames posted videos and photos on social media showing apocalyptic clouds of smoke billowing up over formerly once-idyllic beaches and palm trees.
“Our main focus now is to save lives,” Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen said.
Portuguese countryside still suffering heatwave
Temperatures have now dropped along the Portuguese coast but remain high across the countryside, as firefighters, water-dousing planes and bulldozers being used to prevent the spread of the fire remain on the ground.
A huge blaze that erupted over the weekend, razing thousands of hectares of forest in southern Portugal, is now under control.
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.
Temperatures in many areas rose above 40C.
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