Latest news and stories about severe weather in Vila Real, Portugal for expats and residents.
A severe wildfire spreading across northern Portugal has damaged over 20 homes and left five people with minor injuries, prompting mass evacuations in the Mirandela municipality.
The wildfire in Alijó has been reduced to a single active front with favorable progress, allowing for the reopening of the IC5 route as emergency crews continue their containment efforts.
The Valpaços fire burned hectares of vineyards, olive groves, almond orchards, berry farms, blueberry fields, forest, and scrubland in a municipality that relies primarily on the agricultural sector.
Nine hundred firefighters and 300 vehicles are battling the Valpaços fire, which has since reached Mirandela and Vinhais.
There are 156 personnel on site supported by 50 vehicles and three aerial assets.
António Nunes, president of the Portuguese Firefighters League, believes that 'anticipatory measures' must be in place. He argues, 'We cannot continue, as was done just yesterday, to mobilise firefighters from the Alentejo to fight fires in Valpaços, because that represents 7, 8, or 9 hours until intervention.'
It is the fourth municipality affected by the flames that broke out on Tuesday.
Populations have already been evacuated from their homes in the villages of São Pedro Velho and Ervideira, in Mirandela, and from the village of Vale das Fontes, in Vinhais.
The fire that broke out on Tuesday in Valpaços continues to burn this Friday, with one active front and three in the consolidation and mop-up phase.
Despite the fog and intensity of the smoke, at 10:20 am there were four aerial assets on the ground
Two fronts, in Valpaços and Bragança, are the focus of firefighting efforts. The firefighting team expects another difficult day, although they can now count on the intervention of aerial resources.
Firefighters believe the fire should be resolved during the day
The fire that broke out on Thursday in Chaves continues to have an active sector near the A24 motorway this Friday, July 31, but poses no risk to homes and is expected to be resolved throughout the day, a Civil Protection source told Lusa. In an update at 07:15, the sub-regional commander for emergency and civil protection of Alto Tâmega e Barroso, Artur Mota, indicated that the fire is about 60% to 70% resolved, but there is still an agricultural area that requires 'a lot of work'. According to the National Authority for Emergency and Civil Protection, 197 personnel supported by 63 vehicles were on site as of 07:45 on Friday. Meanwhile, three active fronts in Valpaços, Mirandela, and Vinhais have led to a reinforcement of resources.
The fire that broke out on Thursday poses no risk to homes and is expected to be resolved throughout the day, according to Civil Protection.
Almost 1,000 emergency workers are currently deployed to combat the fire in Valpaços.
Chaves, Vila Real, 31 July 2026 (Lusa) - The fire that broke out on Thursday in Chaves had two active fronts at the beginning of this morning, with authorities expecting a very busy night, a fire department source told Lusa.
A major fire in Valpaços is being tackled by almost 1,000 emergency responders.
Nearly 1,000 emergency responders are currently working to combat the wildfire in Valpaços.
The US President states that the plan will be implemented in phases and includes the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the territory. Furthermore, the President of the Republic is concerned about the Luís Neves case.
Civil Protection states that the fire in Valpaços, the most concerning one, has already led to the activation of the Municipal Emergency Plan.
Civil Protection identifies the fires in Valpaços and Chaves as the most concerning at this moment. Furthermore, the PSU decree was approved, which will include contributions from the PS.
The fire in Valpaços is the one causing the most concern for firefighters, and several residents have already had to be evacuated from their homes.
Flames have also reached Mirandela and are mobilising 800 personnel
Flames have already threatened two dairy farms in the municipality of Boticas.
Tearful and exhausted residents are being evacuated from villages in Valpaços and Mirandela as the now vast wildfire, driven by strengthening winds, continues to advance across northern Portugal. This is The post Anguish as Valpaços wildfire storms out of control appeared first on Portugal Resident.
Residents of the village of Sonim complain about the lack of emergency personnel in that location.
The Intervenção e Resgate Animal (IRA) has deployed emergency teams to assist animals injured in the devastating wildfire that swept through Gorgoço, Valpaços, where several homes have been destroyed and The post IRA rushes to rescue animals injured in Valpaços wildfire appeared first on Portugal Resident.
The woman said she saw the flames approaching the house and that her partner did not want to leave the property.
The fire, which began on Tuesday in Valpaços and spread to the Mirandela municipality, is 80% contained with two small active fronts. Civil Protection sub-regional commander Noel Afonso stated that the fire in Mirandela is 90% contained, while the Valpaços section is 70-80% contained. There are 793 personnel and 261 vehicles on site. The fire has damaged at least 21 homes and caused five minor injuries. Additionally, over 8,000 people have been evacuated from the tourist island of Crete due to a separate wildfire.
Fire crews are still working to extinguish the blaze in the Valpaços region.
