With effect from Sunday, Portugal is in a heightened state of alert due to the expected heat and the danger of forest fires. The ‘alarm status’ lasts until August 8. Meanwhile, a warning has been issued for forest fire danger in the Bouches-du-Rhône department in the South of France.
The Portuguese government fears temperatures that could rise to between 36 and 44 degrees in the coming days. At night, it would be at least 20 degrees.
The highest temperatures could occur inland east of Lisbon in the Alentejo region and in the valley of the Douro River in the north. The measure includes that local authorities can prohibit access to forest areas, it is forbidden to make fire there and all work with machines in rural areas is not allowed, writes newspaper Expresso.
In Bouches-du-Rhône, eight forest areas were closed as a precaution on Saturday. The Southern French department is dealing with the mistral this weekend. The fear is that this powerful wind could fuel any forest fires, reports Météo-France.
Meanwhile, the wildfires in Sicily have burned an area the size of 44,000 football fields in the past two months, according to the Italian newspaper La Repubblica.