The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has issued an urgent travel warning for Brits traveling to Portugal this summer, as wildfires ravage parts of the country. The warning comes as a red heat alert has been declared, with more than 1,000 firefighters battling flames just north of Porto.
Extreme Heat and Fire Risk
The Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmosphere has issued an extreme high temperature warning covering Porto and areas north and east of the city. From Thursday, July 2 until at least Saturday, July 4, 12 of Portugal's 18 districts are under a state of alert due to a persistent spell of extremely high temperatures, both during the day and overnight. The remaining six regions are under orange alert, further increasing the risk of wildfires. Around 2.5 million Brits visit Portugal every year, according to Euronews.
FCDO Advice for Travelers
The FCDO has warned that there is a high risk of wildfires from April to October, when the weather is hot and dry. The statement reads: "Wildfires are highly dangerous and unpredictable. The Portuguese authorities may evacuate areas and close roads for safety reasons." The FCDO advises travelers to check the fire risk index for their location, familiarize themselves with local safety and emergency procedures, follow the advice of the Portuguese authorities, and call emergency services on 112 if they see a fire. Starting a fire, even accidentally, is illegal and can result in a fine or prison sentence.
Possible Criminal Involvement
The Minister of Internal Administration, Luís Neves, has raised the possibility of criminal intent behind the large-scale fire, which ignited during the night. Speaking to journalists in Torres Novas, Neves said: "Night-time does not usually provide conditions for ignitions to occur, and yet there were two ignitions at around 02:00–03:00 in the morning. Everything indicates that there was, in fact, human involvement, criminal behaviour."
