LISBON, Sept 18 (Reuters) – Wildfires in central and northern Portugal have overwhelmed emergency services, prompting reinforcements from Spain and Morocco to arrive on Wednesday, according to the civil protection authority.
The fires, which have claimed at least seven lives in the Aveiro and Viseu districts, have destroyed dozens of homes and burned tens of thousands of hectares of forest and scrubland. Over 5,000 firefighters have been mobilized to combat the blazes.
Duarte Costa, speaking to CNN Portugal on Tuesday, announced the deployment of a 230-member specialized Spanish military team to the Viseu district, where the fires are of "great concern." Morocco is sending up to four heavy water-bombing aircraft, expected to arrive on Wednesday.
Spain, Italy, and France have each contributed two water-bombing aircraft after Portugal requested assistance through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism on Monday.
“We are at the limit of our capabilities, which is why we sought help from the European mechanism, Spain, and Morocco,” Costa said, emphasizing the importance of reinforcements to allow rotation of exhausted Portuguese firefighters and maintenance of firefighting aircraft.
The Portuguese government has declared a state of calamity in all municipalities affected by the fires, granting civil protection agents access to private property.
Prime Minister Luis Montenegro announced that a government team would coordinate urgent support for those who lost homes and livelihoods in the disaster. He also addressed concerns that some of the fires may have been deliberately set, motivated by commercial interests, malice, or criminal negligence, pledging vigorous action against arsonists.
Portugal’s national guard (GNR) reported the arrest of seven individuals suspected of arson since Saturday in the districts of Leiria, Castelo Branco, Porto, and Braga.
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