Extreme Heat and Fire Nightmare in Portugal: The North Surrendered to Flames While Thermometers Reached 42 Degrees

We are in the middle of August and the weather throughout Portugal is scorching with hellish heat. While there is a state of alarm across the country due to successive heat waves, thermometers are climbing up to 42 degrees, especially in the inner regions. Not only the scorching heat, but also the violent winds and storms that came with it brought life to a halt. Thousands of Firefighters were Mobilized in the North. The risk escalated by the heat and dry grass cover created havoc in the northern and central regions. More than 750 firefighters have been on the scene for days to fight fires that broke out especially in places such as Torre de Moncorvo, Boticas, Ponte de Lima and Marco de Canaveses and threaten hundreds of hectares. The revival of the flames in Torre de Moncorvo under the influence of the wind alarmed the teams and the residents of the surrounding villages. The increase in air temperatures and the warnings made by IPMA (Portuguese Marine and Atmospheric Institute) have left almost the entire country under orange and yellow gold. While temperature records are being broken in many regions, there are thunderstorms and hail surprises in some southern and central parts. Europe Suffers from the Same Trouble The situation is not limited to Portugal only; All of Europe is struggling with this spiral of drought and fire that summer brings. Unfortunately, there were casualties in the forest fires that broke out on the Greek island of Salamis, while the huge forest fires that had been going on for days in Belgium could only breathe a little with the rain. It seems that these extreme climatic events in the Mediterranean zone will not make the job of those in the field any easier in the coming days. Source: This compilation was created from the news feed of RTP Notícias and Lusa Agency.