Battling 37 active fires, Portugal extends alert through weekend

By Ilayda Cakirtekin

ISTANBUL (AA) – Facing 37 active fires, the Portuguese government has extended a nationwide alert into the weekend.

With the blazes “showing no signs of letting up, the Government has decided to extend the alert situation, with all prohibitions in place until Sunday (Aug.) 17th,” the Interior Ministry said late Thursday, as Portugal has been battling multiple fires since midweek.

On Friday morning, over 3,500 firefighters were fighting 37 active fires across the country, with six getting the lion’s share of resources, according to local media.

In neighboring Spain, fires that killed three people and injured several remain out of control.

The cities of Zamora, Leon, and Ourense are reportedly the worst affected, with the Zamora and Leon fires perhaps the largest ever recorded in Spain, according to initial estimates, daily El Pais reported.

Spain’s Interior Ministry early Friday reported a total of 14 major fires, all of them at risk level 2.

An alleged perpetrator of two blazes in Ourense was also arrested, according to broadcaster RTVE.

"Today will once again be a very tough day, with an extreme risk of new fires. The Government remains fully committed with all its resources to stop the fire," Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez wrote on US social media company X.

A wave of wildfires sweeping across Spain has scorched nearly 115,000 hectares (284,000 acres) in just a few days.

Soaring temperatures are also gripping much of France, intensifying in the southwest and driving high fire risk across numerous departments, according to Meteo-France.

The Balkan country of Albania has also been hit by dozens of blazes across several districts, with a significant improvement in the fire situation reported early Friday.

During this period, 28 fires were reported, including three active and six under monitoring, according to broadcaster RTSH, citing the Defense Ministry.