Recently, a wildfire in the tourist destination of the Algarve in Portugal has rapidly spread, potentially impacting summer vacations. The fire originated in Odemira and has burned approximately 6,700 hectares of land, causing the evacuation of at least 1,400 people from 19 villages, holiday resorts, and campsites. Firefighters are working tirelessly to extinguish the fire, but high temperatures and strong winds are making their job more difficult.
To contain the further spread of the fire, the fire department is using bulldozers to create firebreaks. According to the commander of the emergency and civil defense agency, Jose Ribero, the weather conditions will continue to pose challenges. There are two active fire fronts, with one advancing towards the rural areas of Monchique in the Algarve. Local officials describe the situation as "critical, difficult, and complex," and many roads have been closed. A significant amount of work is needed to control the fire.
Furthermore, temperatures in certain regions of Portugal are expected to reach 41 degrees Celsius. The Portuguese Institute for the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA) has issued red alerts for high temperatures in six regions, valid until midnight. Preliminary data shows that the temperature in Santarém, central Portugal, may even reach a record-breaking 46.4 degrees Celsius in 2023. As a result, authorities have declared a high risk of wildfires in over 120 municipalities in Portugal, including Lisbon, Alentejo, and the Algarve.
As action is being taken to address the wildfire, airlines and travel agencies are also affected. British Airways and easyJet have stated that they will continue to operate flights to Faro as planned. This is the latest example of major airlines and travel agencies taking different measures following the wildfires in Rhodes, Greece. Jet2, easyJet, and Thomas Cook have canceled flights and vacations to the affected areas, offering refunds and rebooking opportunities. British Airways will continue to closely monitor the situation and operate flights as usual.
Recently, the Iberian Peninsula has been facing severe impacts of climate change, such as increasing heatwaves, droughts, and wildfires. A large fire has also erupted near Estremadura in Spain, close to the border with Portugal. As firefighters were unable to control the fire at night, international assistance, including from Lebanon, Greece, Jordan, and Israel, has been provided with firefighting aircraft, ground personnel, and a significant amount of fire retardant to rescue the approximately 8.5 square kilometers of mountainous areas already burned. However, the fire has rekindled, forcing rescue workers to take action again. Authorities plan to remain on site to prevent the fire from getting out of control again, and firefighting aircraft are expected to take off again on Tuesday.
In the face of this wildfire disaster, Cyprus' Minister of Interior, Constantinos Ioannou, has called for an initial estimate of the losses to private and state-owned property. Residents of three villages have been allowed to return home after being evacuated as a precautionary measure against the fire. The Minister of Agriculture and Environment, Prodromos Prodromou, denied allegations of arson, stating that the rekindled areas were affected by strong winds. These successive wildfires occurred during the peak tourism season and record-breaking high temperatures, which scientists attribute to climate change.