It’s been a year for weather records with record heat striking tourist destinations around the world. With all of the heat and dry weather, summer wildfires have broken out around the world. Unfortunately, some of them in Europe have now turned deadly.
Deadly Wildfires in Portugal
Tourists have been placed on high alert in Portugal where some of the wildfires raging across the country have now turned deadly.
With temperatures well in excess of 86 degrees Fahrenheit, an unusually hot temperature in areas with out wide use of air conditioning, northern and central Portugal have been the most impacted by wildfires in the country.
According to news reports, at least seven people have already lost their lives, including three firefighters in the line of duty.
Two female and one male firefighter lost their lives in a dramatic stand to protect property in central Portugal near the town of in Tábua in Coimbra, the local civil protection agency reported to the British news agency BBC.
5,000 Firefighters Fighting 65 Fires
Portuguese Prime Minister Luís Montenegro reported to the news that the country has dispatched more than 5,000 firefighting personnel and supporting equipment to battle the wildfires “raging across the country.”
It was announced on X, formerly known as Twitter, on Tuesday that European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen had called upon nearby European Union nations for additional firefighters and equipment to fight the wildfires.
Prime Minister Montenegro thanked France, Greece, Italy and Spain for their “rapid and essential help in combating this scourge” in a post on the social media channel.
Eight water tanker aircraft were immediately dispatched to the most critical wildfire fronts by the European Union to protect areas at risk from the worst damage.
Tourists Impacted by Wildfires
According to the Portuguese news media outlet Lusa, more than 37 square miles of land had already been burned between Porto and Aveiro in the north as of earlier this week.
This has led to closure of the key main road between two main travel destinations in Portugal – the capital city of Lisbon and Porto.
Tourists have been forced to reschedule their travels between the two cities while on vacation or find alternate routes that require longer distances and more travel time.
Travelers have also been placed on alert if they are in the area, or plan to visit the area, that they stay tuned to official news and government agencies and be prepared to evacuate if needed.
The United States Department of State still maintains a Level 1 – Exercise Normal Precautions travel advisory level for Portugal.
Advice For Travelers
According to news reports from the BBC, local media have reported that hospitals in affected areas have received people with burns, breathing difficulties and other injuries from the fires.
Travelers that have breathing issues or sensitivity to wildfire smoke may want to consider other travel plans while the large number of wildfires are uncontrolled across the northern and central parts of the country.
While there have not been any official reports of flight delays, tourists should plan ahead for the potential of air traffic delays and flight cancellations at airports in both Lisbon and Porto due to smoke from the wildfires affecting visibility.
It is recommended to check with airlines in advance of any travel to the affected area to get the latest travel updates.
Visitors should also enroll in the United States Department of State free Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) for the latest advisories about the fires from the United States Embassy in Lisbon.
The same system will be used in the event that emergency news needs to be broadcasted by phone or email to United States citizens in the country.