“If the information that supported the President’s statement, that by Friday there would be a worsening of weather conditions, turns out to be true, I think it would be necessary to declare a contingency situation. This is because it allows municipal and sub-regional Civil Protection plans for particularly affected areas to be activated, ensuring that all human, technical, and material resources are at the state’s disposal to face the challenges that may arise,” stated José Luís Carneiro.
The Socialist Secretary-General was speaking to journalists before a meeting with young people in the center of Paredes de Coura, in the district of Viana do Castelo.
Carneiro noted that an assessment of the three dimensions of tackling fires this summer—whether everything that should have been done was done in terms of prevention, preparation, and firefighting—will have to wait for “a moment that is not now.”
“Right now, the priority is to convey solidarity to the firefighters,” he justified.
President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa warned on Wednesday that Friday will be a “very complicated” day in terms of weather conditions for fighting the wildfires ravaging the country.
Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa expressed concern about a “convergence of conditions” favorable to the worsening of the forest fires.
The Head of State addressed journalists at the Faro City Hall, accompanied by Prime Minister Luís Montenegro, after their weekly meeting held on Wednesday in the Algarve, instead of at the Palácio de Belém in Lisbon, as both are on vacation in the region.
“I call the attention of the Portuguese people that we still have this week ahead of us, certainly, a very complicated day,” he emphasized, adding that the situation is being monitored by all, the Presidency and the Government, as the challenge “is one of constant adjustment and will continue in the coming weeks.”
Almost two thousand operatives were battling the four largest fires in mainland Portugal at 14:30, in Arganil, Sátão, Trancoso, and Cinfães, supported by 641 vehicles and 18 aerial means, according to the Civil Protection.
