Portuguese wildfires kill at least 62

Wildfires that are thought to have been caused by lightning strikes spread quickly in the center of Portugal, leaving a tragic trail of death and devastation behind. Portugal declares 3 days of national mourning.

Portugal was struck by tragedy and is in mourning. At least 62 people have lost their lives in a massive wildfire that has been raging in the municipality of Pedrógão Grande, a mountainous area around 200 km northeast of Lisbon, since Saturday. More than 1,000 firefighters, assisted by army battalions, tried to tackle the blaze, many of them suffering injuries themselves. Portugal’s deadliest fire is thought to have been triggered by a catastrophic combination of factors: very dry and hot weather, dry thunderstorms, and strong, gusty winds which fanned the fire.

Entire villages were burned down to the ground, with local residents losing their homes, their crops, their animals and everything they possessed. Communications were disrupted as telephone cables and communications towers were destroyed by the fire, making it harder for people to call for help. Many of the victims died in their cars as they were trying to escape the fire, and more bodies were found next to the road, which suggests that some people ran out of their cars to try to flee. Impressive stories of survival have also begun to emerge, illustrating the horror and despair caused by the fire, but also the bravery and creativity of the Portuguese people.

The Portuguese public gathered so many donations that the fire services had to ask people to stop donating until further notice. People living nearby opened their doors to those that had to flee their own homes. Manifestations of solidarity were not exclusive to Portugal, as Spain and France provided water planes and people from all over the world are making donations to help those affected by this tragic event. The European Union and the UN have also affirmed that they will assist Portugal in the effort to tackle the fire.

Three days of national mourning were declared, as the entire country fears that the death toll will keep rising, that the beautiful landscapes of the area will be irremediably destroyed and that more people will be left homeless and dispossessed. Prime Minister António Costa called this wildfire “the greatest tragedy we have seen in recent years in terms of forest fires”. The public is calling for a full investigation and for accountability, as many blame bad planning by successive governments as an important factor in the high levels of destruction and loss of life.