The deputy mayor of Meda, César Figueiredo, declared the need for the government to recognize the region’s calamity status to provide direct support to affected farmers, businesses, and the civil community. The devastating fire, which entered Meda from Trancoso last Wednesday, prompted Figueiredo to highlight the urgency of compensating those affected.
Figueiredo emphasized the disparity in resources allocated to Civil Protection, stating, “Millions are invested in Civil Protection, and we’re left with pennies.” He noted that the local council had already begun assessing the damage to expedite compensation with concrete support.
Citing the loss endured by locals, Figueiredo stressed that immediate aid was crucial, as the fire left many residents destitute, stripping them of vineyards, pastures, olive groves, animals, and farming equipment. Furthermore, the municipality is experiencing electricity shortages due to the fires, affecting several areas.
The council experienced near-total devastation, sparing only a small part beyond the Itinerário Principal (IP) 2, connecting A25 to Pocinho in Vila Nova de Foz Côa. Figueiredo described the aftermath as “completely devastating,” with ongoing threats in Longroiva, Fonte Longa, and near the municipal seat, previously endangering the historical village of Marialva.
The blaze, originating from Trancoso and later merging with another fire from Sátão, spread to 11 municipalities in Viseu and Guarda districts. Active firefronts persist across the areas, notably Longroiva, a key viticultural zone, and Fonte Longa.
Emergency response updates reveal that at 23:20, Sátão had 753 personnel with 253 vehicles, while Trancoso had 433 personnel with 144 vehicles, totaling 1,186 responders and 397 vehicles. The summer’s intense heat and multiple rural fires have ravaged mainland Portugal, prompting a state of alert and significant destruction of property and agricultural land.
Portugal has activated the European Civil Protection Mechanism, expecting two Fire Boss planes on Monday to aid firefighting efforts. Preliminary data indicates that by August 16, 139,000 hectares had burned, vastly exceeding last year’s figures by 17 times, with nearly half consumed in just two days.
