Massive Wildfire Rages in Aljezur: Over 500 Firefighters Battle Blaze as 40 Municipalities Face Maximum Fire Danger

Wildfire Crisis Intensifies in Southern Portugal

A devastating wildfire that erupted on Sunday at noon in Bordeira, Aljezur, continues to rage, with over 520 operational personnel on the scene as of Monday morning. They are supported by 185 ground vehicles and eight aircraft, working tirelessly to contain the flames.

Spread and Impact

The fire, which originated in Aljezur, has now spread into the municipality of Lagos, consuming vast areas of brushland, pine forests, and eucalyptus groves within the Parks Natural do Sudoeste Alentejano e Costa Vicentina. It has already destroyed one secondary residence and remains active on two fronts, though no populations or additional homes are currently at risk, and there are no reported casualties.

Evacuations and Weather Conditions

Residents who were evacuated as a precaution from the village of Barão de São João on Sunday have safely returned to their homes. Overnight, calmer winds aided firefighting efforts, but forecasts predict a resurgence of strong winds on Monday morning, potentially exacerbating the situation.

Widespread Fire Danger

According to the Instituto Português do Mar e da Atmosfera (IPMA), more than 40 municipalities across the districts of Vila Real, Bragança, Viseu, Guarda, Castelo Branco, Santarém, Portalegre, and Faro are under maximum fire danger today. Many areas in the northern and central interior, as well as the Algarve, face very high risk levels.

The elevated fire danger is expected to persist until at least Friday in some regions, based on IPMA's five-level scale (from reduced to maximum), which considers factors like air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, and recent precipitation.

Weather Forecast

For Monday, IPMA forecasts mostly clear or partly cloudy skies on the mainland, with strong winds gusting up to 60 kilometers per hour along the western coastal strip, particularly in the afternoon and in highland areas. A slight drop in minimum temperatures is anticipated, ranging from 14°C in Viana do Castelo and Braga to 22°C in Portalegre, while maximum temperatures will vary between 25°C in Viana do Castelo and 35°C in Santarém.