WILDFIRES – THE WORST EVER

 

Most Portuguese newspapers continue to feature wildfires on their front pages as this is the worst year for wildfires in Portugal’s history.

 

It has been announced that an extraordinary debate on wildfires will be held in the Portuguese parliament next week.

 

More areas have been burnt across the country than ever before, with the destruction helped at times by strong winds, low humidity, and always because of parched earth due to a lack of rain.

 

So far, 261,000 hectares (645,000 acres) have been destroyed this year compared to 143,000 hectares (353,000 acres) last year.

 

This week a third man died and at least 15 others were injured – one critically – while fighting different blazes The latest man killed was working for a company hired to help the northwastern municipality of Mirandela The injured men were battling fires near the city of Setubal, about 50 km south of the capital Lisbon where two water-bombing aircraft sent by Sweden were operating. These aircraft and further foreign assistance have been deployed by the European Civil Protection Agency.

 

By mid-week, the four fiercest wildfires were still in the north and central parts of the country and occupying the attention of more than 2,000 ground firefighters and about 20 aircraft.

 

The situation has also been extremely serious in neighbouring Spain, as well as France Turkey and the Balkans, though hopes are now rising that temperatures seem to be cooling after weeks of extreme heat.

In the Algarve, a few relatively small wildfires have neem quickly been brought under contra.

While it is thought that lightning strikes may have sparked some wildfires in Iberia, arsonists are strongly suspected.

 

Meteorologists say that heat extremes are becoming more intensive and common because of human-induced climate change.

CHARITIES

ALZHEIMER 

PORTUGAL

Alzheimer Portugal is a nationwide organisation created more than 30 years ago specifically to promote the quality of life for people with dementia, as well as their families and carers.

It is there for you should you need their professional advice.

Alzheimer Portugal actively participates with its European and worldwide partners to gather and disseminate the latest information about dementia.

Website:

https://alzheimerportugal.org

Email:

info@alzheimerportugal.org

Phone Contacts:

Lisbon: +351 21 361 04 60

Faro: 289 803 747

Portimão: 965 276 690

Lagoa: 965 276 690

⸻MADRUGADA

This unique Algarve organisation provides a home-based, end-of-life palliative nursing care service for people wishing to spend their final days professionally cared for in their own home.

Established in 2009, they are now renowned for the excellence of palliative care, which is provided free of charge.

Based in Praia da Luz in the western Algarve, their specialist clinical teams work extensively to help people, and those important to them, manage the challenges of life-limiting illnesses through counselling, therapeutic and creative activities, complementary therapies, advice, and education.

For more information:

Call: +351 282 761 375

Email: admin@madrugada-portugal.com

The more donations they receive, the more their specialist volunteers are able to care for the community.