Portugal's Wildfire Crisis: Over 15,000 Hectares Devastated in Just Three Days

In a shocking turn of events, Portugal has witnessed the destruction of over 15,000 hectares of forest and scrubland in just the last three days due to wildfires. This staggering figure matches the total area burned from January 1st until last Sunday, highlighting the severity of the current fire crisis.

The Scale of Destruction

The fires have ravaged an area equivalent to one and a half times the size of Lisbon (100 km²), with significant blazes reported in Arouca (over 5,400 hectares), Penamacor (at least 2,500 hectares), and Ponte da Barca (over 2,200 hectares), the latter within the Peneda-Gerês National Park.

Official Statistics Reveal Alarming Trends

According to provisional data from the ICNF (Institute for Nature Conservation and Forests), 29,408 hectares have been consumed by fires since the beginning of the year, resulting from 4,541 incidents. The breakdown of the affected areas is as follows:

• 49% forests
• 38% scrubland
• 13% agricultural zones

The rapid spread of these fires underscores the urgent need for enhanced fire prevention and combat strategies in Portugal.