Severe weather news in Viseu, Portugal

Portugal activates EU civil protection mechanism over wildfires

Euronews.com3 Jul

One municipality at maximum wildfire risk and nearly 50 at very high risk

The municipality of Vouzela, in Viseu, is the only one at maximum risk of rural fire this Sunday in mainland Portugal, according to the Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA).

Fire in Resende: firefighter died, Seguro sends condolences

The fire, which broke out on Thursday in the town of Barrô, in Resende, remains active, with one front still out of control

Fire in Resende remains active

The fire that broke out on Thursday in Resende, in the Viseu district, remained active as of 06:20 today, mobilising more than 200 personnel, a Civil Protection source told Lusa.

Fire in Castro Daire brought under control hours after the alert was raised

128 personnel remain on the ground, supported by 36 vehicles

Bad weather cancels night-time closures on the IP3 in Tondela

Interventions on the road connecting Viseu to Coimbra are suspended. IP assessed the conditions on site and concluded that there was no safety for the work to proceed.

Woman injured after structure collapses due to strong winds in Viseu

About a dozen incidents have been recorded in the municipality in the last few hours, including fallen trees and collapsed structures.

Woman injured after structure collapses due to strong winds in Viseu

About a dozen incidents have been recorded in the municipality in the last few hours, including fallen trees and collapsed structures.

Fire in Lamego brought under control overnight

There are no reports of injuries caused by the fire.

Nearly 100 personnel fight fire in Lamego

Authorities received the alert at 15:30 this Monday.

Wildfires: Interventions in Tondela to begin by September

Secondary watercourses and sections of the secondary fuel management network will be addressed. The goal is to minimise erosion, debris runoff, and other risks.

Tondela prepares plan to mitigate effects of fire in the Caramulo mountains

Initial estimates point to losses of around 7.5 million euros and a burnt area of 1,500 hectares.

Vouzela fire: 15,000 hectares destroyed

To date, this has been the largest fire of the year, having burned from 03:04 on the 2nd until 12:40 on the 5th. There are still 35 personnel on the ground to prevent flare-ups.

Six thousand of the 15,000 hectares burned at the beginning of the month are in Vouzela

With more than 15,000 hectares destroyed, the fire, the largest of the year so far, caused two serious and six minor injuries.

After the fire, not even a lock on the door...

This opinion piece reflects the frustration of a community repeatedly devastated by wildfires. The author highlights the destruction of homes, livelihoods, and the unique Loendros Botanical Reserve in Campia. The text argues that while climate change exacerbates the situation, the focus must shift from merely fighting fires to structural prevention, including the professionalisation of firefighting, collective land management, and a move away from monoculture forestry towards more resilient, diverse landscapes.

“People were distressed”: Vouzela residents had flames “less than 50 metres” from their homes

First part of the 'Investigação CM' from this Sunday, July 12, 2026.

“Great concern and fear”: fire that broke out in Vouzela threatened homes, people, and animals

Second part of the 'Investigação CM' from this Sunday, July 12, 2026.

“It was a very difficult night”: the village of Sernada slept surrounded by flames. Fire consumed nearly 15,000 hectares

Third part of the 'Investigação CM' from this Sunday, July 12, 2026.

Fire that broke out in Vouzela leaves a trail of destruction: 15 thousand hectares burned and millions in losses

The 'Investigação CM' programme was alongside residents who grabbed hoses and buckets of water to try to defend their homes, animals, and property.

Satellite captures 620km wildfire in Portugal from space

Home News Satellite captures 620km wildfire in Portugal from space Satellite captures 620km wildfire in Portugal from space A satellite image released by the European Union’s Copernicus Earth observation programme has revealed the scale of the recent fire in Vouzela, showing a smoke plume stretch

Tropical nights, 'very strong' winds and near-zero humidity. We haven't had this meteorological complexity in 25 years

Rui Rocha, Secretary of State for Civil Protection, guarantees that the days of intense fires in Vouzela occurred under 'exceptional circumstances'.

Damages from the Vouzela fire begin to be assessed

The Vouzela fire is already the largest of this year in Portugal and in Europe.

Armed Forces maintain around 40 patrols and four helicopters in the fight against wildfires

In addition to firefighters, Armed Forces patrols are mobilised to combat wildfires in Portugal. According to an official statement, around 40 Navy and Army patrols are on the ground. In Vouzela and Santo Tirso, where the largest fires of recent days occurred, military personnel are engaged in mop-up and post-mop-up surveillance operations. One patrol is deployed to Santo Tirso and two to Vouzela, the municipality that recorded the largest burnt area. As DN revealed this Tuesday, this fire placed Portugal at the top of Europe for burnt area in 2026. According to the Armed Forces, two engineering detachments are also deployed in Vouzela, with a third pre-positioned in Leiria, prepared to respond to potential operational needs. Within the scope of the Special Device for Combating Rural Fires (DECIR), teams are supported in all operations by manned aerial assets and unmanned aerial systems from the Navy and Air Force. Missions include surveillance and patrolling across the national territory, ensuring a permanent presence in high-risk areas. Two of the helicopters used are AW119 Koala models, dedicated to surveillance, reconnaissance, and aerial coordination missions. The other two are UH-60 Black Hawks, employed in firefighting missions and the projection of personnel to hard-to-reach areas. The continuous presence on the ground and in the air aims to contribute to the early detection of fires and potential flare-ups, and to identify negligent or illicit behaviour in close coordination with competent authorities. The Armed Forces also provide accommodation and food for firefighters in Abrantes, as well as support for the operation of Canadair aircraft mobilised through the European Civil Protection Mechanism.

Wildfires: Vouzela pushes Portugal to European record for burnt area in 2026

The fires in the Vouzela region have contributed to Portugal reaching a record-breaking amount of burnt land in Europe for the year 2026.

Portugal leads tragedy in southern Europe: fire has already devoured more than 13,000 hectares

A massive wildfire in Portugal has destroyed over 13,000 hectares, marking the most severe incident in southern Europe.

SAPO6 Jul

More than 15,000 hectares of land burnt in five days

The 4,592 fires recorded in 2026 have already consumed 30,155 hectares. The Central region is the most affected, with Vouzela experiencing the most severe fire of this heatwave.

More than 15,000 hectares have burned in Portugal in the last five days

Over 15,000 hectares have burned in Portugal in the last five days, with the burnt area doubling between July 1st and 5th, according to provisional data from the Integrated Rural Fire Management System (SGIFR). Data consulted by the Lusa agency indicates that the 4,592 forest fires recorded this year have resulted in 30,155 hectares of burnt area, with over 15,000 burning between Wednesday and Sunday. According to the SGIFR, the Central region saw the most damage, with 14,244 hectares consumed, largely due to a fire that began early Thursday in Vouzela (Viseu) and was only brought under control today. In the North, 11,834 hectares have burned this year. Compared to the same period in 2025, the burnt area has nearly quadrupled, marking the highest figure since 2017. The number of fires has increased by about 70% compared to the same period in 2025, the highest since 2022. SGIFR data also shows that 56% of the burnt area occurred during days of high fire risk. Portugal has been experiencing very high temperatures since last week, with the Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA) placing several districts under red alert due to the heat. On Friday, the government declared an alert status, in effect until 23:59 today, due to the 'significant increase in the risk of rural fires'. Paulo Rainha Mateus succeeds Tiago Oliveira as head of the Agency for Integrated Rural Fire Management. Heatwave: four districts under red alert and over 100 municipalities at maximum fire risk.

More than 15,000 hectares have burned in Portugal in the last five days

Over 15,000 hectares of land have been destroyed by wildfires in Portugal during the past five days.

dnoticias.pt6 Jul