Latest news and stories about severe weather in Braga, Portugal for expats and residents.
Mainland Portugal is currently under maximum or very high wildfire risk, prompting the deployment of over 1,500 emergency personnel and 30 aircraft to manage the critical situation across multiple districts.
A wildfire in Terras de Bouro, Gerês, has persisted for 24 hours, with 200 personnel battling challenging conditions as Portugal faces a nationwide extreme wildfire risk.
The fire in Vila Verde has been contained after five hours, while firefighting efforts continue in Penafiel and Guarda.
One of the fronts is “visibly yielding to the resources”
The National Association of Parishes (Anafre) will demand a response regarding funds allocated for damage from Storm Kristin that have not yet reached the parishes. The association's president, Francisco Branco de Brito, stated that local authorities should not be held hostage by municipalities. He noted that many parishes have yet to receive any funding, highlighting the severe financial impact on smaller parishes, such as Meirinhas in Pombal, which faces 300,000 euros in damages despite a very low annual funding allocation. The meeting in Guimarães also focused on preparing a proposal for the revision of the Local Finance Law.
The Prime Minister will not be able to attend the opening of the proceedings. Additionally, England defeated Mexico 3-2, securing their place in the quarter-finals.
Montenegro will therefore miss the opening of the AD parliamentary sessions in Cascais. Also, in the World Cup, Brazil was eliminated by Norway.
Health Minister Ana Paula Martins expressed strong concern this Friday (July 3rd) regarding the current heatwave affecting the country, warning of “very difficult days” ahead. The warning came as the Directorate-General of Health (DGS) raised the alert level in Portugal to Level 2 (Orange) of the National Seasonal Health Preparation and Response Plan due to high temperatures and public health risks. Speaking in Guimarães, the minister noted increased pressure on hospital emergency services, INEM, and the SNS24 health line. She urged the public to follow health recommendations, particularly to protect the elderly, by staying hydrated and avoiding direct sun exposure. Separately, the Minister of the Environment has called for water conservation and acknowledged the possibility of localized power outages due to the high temperatures.
Ana Paula Martins detailed the reasons for the DGS having activated this level.
The measure comes after level 2 of the contingency plan was activated on Wednesday night, under which contingency beds had already been opened and the clinical discharge service reinforced.
The DGS justifies the alert upgrade due to high temperatures and mandates strengthened coordination between entities, as well as monitoring of the situation and the response capacity of services.
Although at different times, 13 of the 18 districts of mainland Portugal are covered by red warnings starting this Friday.
The fire has been close to homes in Barcelos. The population fears for their houses and animals.
With the country under a heatwave, the Government has decided to activate the European civil protection mechanism and request support from Morocco, the Prime Minister announced at the end of the Council of Ministers meeting held this Friday in Guimarães. “We have decided at this time to activate the European civil protection mechanism and also the bilateral agreements...”
The alert was given at 11:20 am and the fire was close to homes.
Two fronts have been brought under control and one is “giving way to the resources” in the fire that broke out on Thursday on the Fralães hill, in the municipality of Barcelos.
If weather conditions do not worsen, the fire may be brought under control during the day
At least four local health units have already raised their local contingency plans to level 2 due to high temperatures. In Braga, 30 contingency beds have been opened.
Rail traffic on the Minho Line between Nine and Arentim is suspended due to a fire near the tracks, reported Infraestruturas de Portugal (IP). According to IP, traffic was suspended around 14:45 this Thursday, July 2nd. The Civil Protection website reports two fires in dilapidated or vacant buildings in Nine, in the municipality of Vila Nova de Famalicão. A fire in Vouzela mobilises eight aerial assets. No villages are in danger.
The fire may have resulted from another blaze in the vicinity.
A fire in Famalicão, Vermoim, started after midnight. The most concerning area is Vale de São Cosme, where the fire is near a residential area. However, no houses are at risk.
The fire is burning with two active fronts but does not currently threaten homes
The fire entered the resolution phase overnight but intensified this morning, with strong winds hindering firefighting efforts. Additionally, the Government has declared an alert status until the 6th.
The firefighters' goal is to ensure the fire is contained before the hottest hours of the day.
During the night, the flames were very close to houses.
The fire broke out shortly after 06:00 in the Union of Parishes of Ruivães and Campos.
The fire in Vieira do Minho is spreading through brush on a hillside with difficult access, without threatening homes. The reactivation of the Terras de Bouro fire was brought under control by 5:30 PM.
The fire is consuming brush on a hillside with difficult access, with no homes or property currently at risk.
The fire has been burning for over a day and has already consumed an extensive area of brushwood.
The wildfire in the Terras de Bouro municipality has been largely contained by emergency services.
