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Devastating wildfires have ravaged central and northern Portugal, forcing emergency services to seek assistance from neighboring countries, including Morocco and Spain.
According to Reuters, citing the Portuguese civil protection authority, reinforcements from Morocco are expected to arrive on Wednesday to help contain the blazes that have tragically claimed seven lives in the Aveiro and Viseu districts. These fires have also destroyed numerous homes and consumed tens of thousands of hectares of forest and scrubland.
Rabat has pledged to send four heavy water-bombing aircraft to Portugal, as confirmed by Duarte Costa, a Portuguese politician and co-chair of the party Volt Portugal. Costa emphasized the critical situation, stating, «We are facing a dire situation, operating at the limits of our capabilities, and therefore, we are requesting support from the European mechanism, Spain, and Morocco».
In response to the widespread devastation, Portugal has declared a state of calamity in all municipalities affected by the wildfires. Prime Minister Luis Montenegro has assured that the government will provide «the most immediate and urgent support» to those who have lost their homes and livelihoods.
Investigations have revealed that at least some of the numerous fires across Portugal have been intentionally set, potentially motivated by commercial interests, spite, or criminal negligence. The Portuguese national guard has arrested seven individuals since Saturday on suspicion of arson in the districts of Leiria, Castelo Branco, Porto, and Braga.
