The Minister for Internal Administration on Thursday urged the public to avoid activities that could trigger wildfires amidst the high temperatures forecast for the coming days, including the traditional release of hot-air paper lanterns during the São João festivities.
Speaking at a press conference in Carnaxide, Oeiras, Luís Neves warned that weather conditions over the next few days could be "terrible for this time of year", with temperatures expected to range between 30ºC and 40ºC, or even higher in inland areas and the Alentejo region, combined with very low humidity and winds of between 30 and 40 km/h.
According to the Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA)'s 10-day forecast, temperatures are expected to exceed 40ºC from Saturday onwards in the districts of Évora, Beja and Castelo Branco.
Neves said the Government was awaiting "more detailed information" on the rural fire risk before deciding whether additional measures would be necessary.
He also stressed that firefighting efforts would not be hampered by a lack of funding this year, adding that the public should brace for a summer of exceptionally high temperatures. He noted that it had not yet been possible to clear all the land affected by the storms that struck the country in January and early February, leaving additional fuel for potential wildfires.
The minister was speaking after attending an extraordinary meeting of the National Operational Coordination Centre (CCON), which brought together the country's key civil protection and emergency response authorities at the National Authority for Emergency and Civil Protection (ANEPC) headquarters in Carnaxide, Oeiras.
Source: LUSA
Photo credit: António Pedro Santos/Lusa
