Portugal braces for extreme heat and wildfire surge as temperatures soar

Lisbon: Temperatures across mainland Portugal are set to rise sharply over the weekend, with highs potentially reaching 43 degrees Celsius in the southern interior and the Tejo and Douro valleys, the Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA) warned.

The extreme heat is driving a significant increase in wildfire risk. As of Thursday noon, 54 wildfires remained active across the country, according to the National Authority for Emergency and Civil Protection (ANEPC). A total of 2,253 firefighters, 721 vehicles, and three aircraft have been deployed to combat the flames.

Interior Minister Maria Lucia Amaral said on Wednesday that the country is mounting its “greatest effort so far” to fight the fires, with all available resources mobilised.

“We are using all available means within our capacity, even though resources are always limited,” Amaral told Lusa News Agency. “What we have in place represents the greatest effort made so far in fighting forest fires.”

She stressed that the government’s top priority is to prevent the situation from escalating. “Our foremost duty is to ensure the situation does not become more difficult. We are fully focused on fighting the fires to protect lives and property. To that end, we have mobilised every available resource.”

Amaral added that Portugal currently has 72 firefighting aircraft operational, working under a coordinated response involving ANEPC, the Air Force, and the Ministry of Defence.

So far in 2025, wildfires have consumed nearly 42,000 hectares of land—eight times more than during the same period in 2024 and the highest total since 2022, according to the Integrated Rural Fire Management System (SGIFR).

Since January 1, SGIFR has recorded 5,211 fires that have burned 41,644 hectares. More than half of this area was lost in a period of just under two weeks since July 26. Compared to the same timeframe in 2024, the number of wildfires has nearly doubled.

Authorities continue to urge residents and visitors to exercise extreme caution, especially in rural and forested areas, as the heatwave intensifies.