Record Wildfires Sweep Through Portugal
The Portuguese Institute for Nature Conservation and Forests reported that wildfires ignited since August 13 in the Arganil region (Coimbra) have consumed a record area of 64,000 hectares, marking the largest forest fires in the country’s history.
A report from the Forest Fire Management Information System clarified that the fire, which began in the town of Beja, was brought under control last Sunday after 11 days of raging, with flames spreading to several municipalities across Coimbra and Castelo Branco, setting an unprecedented record within a single week.
The new fires have surpassed the previous record from October 2017 when flames devastated approximately 53,000 hectares in the municipality of Louza (Vilarinho region).
