Portugal's Wildfire Crisis: 3% of National Territory Devastated as Government Denies Prevention Failures

Portugal Leads EU in Burned Area Percentage

This year, nearly 279,000 hectares have burned in Portugal, accounting for about 3% of the national territory. According to data from the European Forest Fire Information System, the area burned in 2025 is three times higher than the average of the last two decades, making Portugal the country with the highest percentage of burned area in the European Union.

Government Rejects Accusations of Prevention Failures

In an interview on RTP3, the Minister of Agriculture, José Manuel Fernandes, rejected claims that the government failed in wildfire prevention. He asserted that the current administration under Luís Montenegro has implemented more measures in a year and a half than the previous PS governments did in eight years.

Key Statistics and Minister's Defense

The minister highlighted that only 4% of the burned area consisted of eucalyptus plantations. He advocated for extensive pastoralism as a method to reduce fuel load in forests.

Support for Victims and Record-Breaking Fire

The government has guaranteed that funds to support wildfire victims will begin to be paid out next week. In a provisional report, the fire in Arganil is noted as the largest ever in Portugal. It started with a dry thunderstorm near the historic village of Piódão and spread to seven municipalities.

Over 12 days, 64,000 hectares of forest, scrubland, and agricultural land were destroyed. Daily efforts involved around 1,500 firefighters and over 15 aerial support units.