Portugal mourns after seven killed in wildfires

Portugal is mourning the deaths of seven individuals who perished in wildfires that have ravaged the country’s west coast, burning over 121,000 hectares of land since Sunday. Among the casualties were three firefighters who were on the front lines battling the blazes. Prime Minister Luís Montenegro has declared a state of calamity for the worst-affected areas and has mobilised additional resources to combat the fires, urging police investigators to find those responsible for starting them. The European Copernicus satellite system reported that more than 100,000 hectares have burnt in the north and centre of Portugal alone. Minister of Internal Affairs Margarida Blasco has promised a thorough review of the government’s response to the fires to identify any potential errors. Blasco defended her silence in the days following the fires, stating that good practice advised against unnecessary interventions in operational matters. The country is still grappling with the aftermath of the wildfires, with many families forced to evacuate and others left homeless. The national mourning day serves as a somber reminder of the devastating impact of these natural disasters and the need for continued vigilance and support for the affected communities.

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