Insurance companies have totted up the bill for the Monchique fire and say that €2.1 million of damages has been caused to insured properties and equipment.
The damage was caused by the fire that broke out to the north of Monchique and swept northwards into the Odemira municipality and south, past the county town and onwards to areas in the the Silves and Portimão municipalities.
The blaze started on August 3rd and was declared over on the 10th, with up to 1200 firefighters deployed.
According to a survey carried out by the Portuguese Association of Insurers which contacted its member companies, there have been 118 claims under valid insurance policies, which, when added up, come to €2,108,484.
Of the total claims, the Association stated that 100 relate to homeowners’ insurance and about 11 were under business and industrial insurance policies.
Insurers have paid out or are considering a total household insurance bill of €1.7 million, with €269,000 so far claimed under commercial policies.
The remaining four claims are for personal accidents and accidents at work, a total of €7,280 paid out or pending.
The fire broke out in the area of Perna da Negra, in Monchique, consuming more than 27,000 hectares of land and many rural buildings.
Farmers in the affected area can apply for money in a €5 million pot set up by the Ministry of Agriculture. Applications for support are encouraged with the money, “available to meet the losses of farmers in the parishes affected by the fire," says the Ministry.
The region was blessed with a visit last Friday by the Minister of Agriculture, who announced the launch of this support fund, "as soon as possible.”
There is another support system set up to get feed to animals who now have no green vegetable matter left to consume.
This €5 million is aimed at helping farmers replace animals lost in the inferno, re-sow crops, replace agricultural machinery and equipment, and rebuild warehouses and other farm buildings.
If farmers apply for €5,000 or less, they are entitled to a 100% grant, after which there is a sliding scale.
Farmers must be located in one of the fire-damaged areas and applications are open until September 30th using the PDR 2020 website www.pdr-2020.pt which might be tricky to access for many potential applicants.
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