In September, wildfires burned northern and central region of Portugal. In order to give government aid, the President of Portugal Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa and Prime Minister Luís Montenegro visited all those regions that were most impacted by the wildfire. They wanted to show support for the people in the area and see themselves just the dire circumstances had been.
However, some people think that these visits are also made to make the government seem better during a tough political time in Lisbon.
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Wildfires Hit Northern and Central Portugal
The fires was erupted between September 15 and 20. It has destroyed more than 135,000 hectares of land. This wildfire has killed nine individuals and injured more than 170. The flames destroyed forests, homes, and farms across districts like Porto, Vila Real, and Aveiro. Many families have lost their homes and their jobs or businesses have been affected.
On September 30, the President and Prime Minister visited three of the hardest-hit areas Baião, Vila Pouca de Aguiar, and Sever do Vouga along with other officials. They flew over the burned regions in a helicopter and then met with local leaders.
This is the third time the President and Prime Minister have appeared together after this year’s wildfires. Many see this visit as a way for the government to gain public approval during a challenging time due to political issues in Lisbon.
Mayors Address Firefighter Shortages
In Baião, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa and Luís Montenegro were met by the local mayor Paulo Pereira. He spoke about the biggest problem during the fires which was a shortage of firefighters. The firefighters were exhausted after hours of work but there were not enough fresh crews to replace them.
Mayor Pereira said
We didn’t have enough people to relieve those who were fighting the fires for hours.
After Baião, the leaders went on to meet other mayors and local leaders in Vila Pouca de Aguiar and Sever do Vouga. These meetings revealed more challenges both in terms of human loss and the destruction of local economies and landscapes.
Government Announced €500M Funds
The government announced a number of programs that will help families, businesses, and farms recover from the fire. The restoration of forests and the reconstruction of damaged infrastructure are also included in these plans.
One important step is financial assistance for homeowners whose main houses have been damaged. The government agreed to refund 100% of the rebuilding costs. They have set a limit of 150,000 euros for rebuilding costs. This will help people who have lost everything to rebuild their homes.
Farmers are also set to receive aid from the Portugal government that were affected by the wildfire. The government will provide up to €6,000 per farm to help cover the loss of crops and animals. There is also a special fund to help businesses that were destroyed especially factories so that they can get back to work.
Other plans include speeding up public works projects to fix roads, utilities, and other public services damaged in the fires. This will help bring life back to normal in affected areas as soon as possible.
Portugal’s Struggle With Wildfires
Portugal continues to struggle with wildfires but the government’s responses to the recent flames have been quick. The country’s dry summers and huge forests make it at risk of flames every year. The issue seems to be getting worse with fires growing more frequent and serious.
Climate change is making these conditions worse. Hotter weather and prolonged dry conditions increase the danger of wildfires in Portugal. Summertime wildfires which destroy thousands of hectares of land have an impact on both the ecosystem and local populations.
The forest fires of 2023 were among the worst wildfires in Portugal. Many people believe that what the government is doing will not only support the recovery of sufferers but will also prevent future fires from inflicting such extensive damage.
As October begins, Portugal’s most dangerous period for wildfires has officially ended for this year. But the damage from September’s fires will take a long time to repair.
The environment has been badly impacted, and homes, farms, and businesses have been destroyed. People in Baião, Vila Pouca de Aguiar, and Sever do Vouga need immediate support to reconstruct their lives.
