Beset by wildfires, Portugal gets help from Spain, Morocco

18/9/2024 17:32

        Deadly wildfires in central and northern Portugal have pushed emergency services to the limit and much-needed reinforcements will arrive on Wednesday from Spain and Morocco, the civil protection authority said.
        
        At least seven people have died due to the blazes in the Aveiro and Viseu districts, with dozens of houses destroyed and tens of thousands of hectares of forest and scrubland consumed. Authorities have mobilised more than 5,000 firefighters.
        
        Duarte Costa told CNN Portugal late on Tuesday that a specialised emergencies team of 230 Spanish military personnel would be deployed in the central Viseu district, where huge blazes are "of great concern at the moment".
        
        Morocco is sending up to four heavy water-bombing aircraft that should also arrive in Portugal on Wednesday, he added.
        
        Spain, Italy and France have already sent two water-bombing aircraft each after the Portuguese government on Monday requested help under the EU civil protection mechanism.