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dreadfull
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Guest
dreadfull
breaking news in portugal
Faro
Lisbon
Oporto
1 Hour(s) ago: Portugal wildfires worsen as temperatures soar
Wildfires which have raged in parched woodland in Portugal over the past three days, killing two firefighters, worsened today, with temperatures expected to soar to 40 degrees Celsius as the worst drought for 60 years continues. More than 1,800 firefighters are battling dozens of wildfires, including 14 which have raced out of control, in the thick-wooded centre and north of the country, the civil protection service said.
Faro
Lisbon
Oporto
1 Hour(s) ago: Portugal wildfires worsen as temperatures soar
Wildfires which have raged in parched woodland in Portugal over the past three days, killing two firefighters, worsened today, with temperatures expected to soar to 40 degrees Celsius as the worst drought for 60 years continues. More than 1,800 firefighters are battling dozens of wildfires, including 14 which have raced out of control, in the thick-wooded centre and north of the country, the civil protection service said.
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Guest
heres the full story.....
AFX News Limited
Portugal wildfires worsen as temperatures soar
08.15.2005, 06:36 AM
LISBON (AFX) - Wildfires which have raged in parched woodland in Portugal over the past three days, killing two firefighters, worsened today, with temperatures expected to soar to 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) as the worst drought for 60 years continues.
More than 1,800 firefighters are battling dozens of wildfires, including 14 which have raced out of control, in the thick-wooded centre and north of the country, the civil protection service said.
About 500 vehicles and nine platoons of soldiers are supporting the fire crews.
The Forest Fire Prevention Agency said all but one of mainland Portugal's 18 administrative districts faces either a 'maximum' or 'very high' risk of fires today, the two highest levels.
By comparison yesterday, nine districts faced a 'maximum' risk of wildfires and two a 'very high' risk.
Firefighters urged rural homeowners to clear areas of 50 metres (165 feet) around their houses to keep fires from reaching the buildings and to avoid using any farm equipment which could set off sparks on the tinder-dry land.
They also asked campers to avoid starting fires in woodlands and warned drivers and train passengers against throwing cigarette butts out of windows.
Blazes broke out across the country, facing its worst drought since 1945, on Friday with the return of scorching temperatures.
Wildfires have destroyed up to 118,000 hectares (292,000 acres) of forest and scrubland so far this year in Portugal, according to government estimates, compared to 130,000 hectares for all of 2004.
Experts blame human negligence, the abandonment of rural areas and a focus on planting profitable but highly combustible tree species such as fast-growing eucalyptus and pine for the increase in wildfires.
AFX News Limited
Portugal wildfires worsen as temperatures soar
08.15.2005, 06:36 AM
LISBON (AFX) - Wildfires which have raged in parched woodland in Portugal over the past three days, killing two firefighters, worsened today, with temperatures expected to soar to 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) as the worst drought for 60 years continues.
More than 1,800 firefighters are battling dozens of wildfires, including 14 which have raced out of control, in the thick-wooded centre and north of the country, the civil protection service said.
About 500 vehicles and nine platoons of soldiers are supporting the fire crews.
The Forest Fire Prevention Agency said all but one of mainland Portugal's 18 administrative districts faces either a 'maximum' or 'very high' risk of fires today, the two highest levels.
By comparison yesterday, nine districts faced a 'maximum' risk of wildfires and two a 'very high' risk.
Firefighters urged rural homeowners to clear areas of 50 metres (165 feet) around their houses to keep fires from reaching the buildings and to avoid using any farm equipment which could set off sparks on the tinder-dry land.
They also asked campers to avoid starting fires in woodlands and warned drivers and train passengers against throwing cigarette butts out of windows.
Blazes broke out across the country, facing its worst drought since 1945, on Friday with the return of scorching temperatures.
Wildfires have destroyed up to 118,000 hectares (292,000 acres) of forest and scrubland so far this year in Portugal, according to government estimates, compared to 130,000 hectares for all of 2004.
Experts blame human negligence, the abandonment of rural areas and a focus on planting profitable but highly combustible tree species such as fast-growing eucalyptus and pine for the increase in wildfires.