In statements to the agency Lusa, the vice-president of the Ponte da Barca municipality, in the district of Viana do Castelo, José Alfredo, revealed that the first residents to be evacuated from their homes were those of Sobredo, in the parish of Vila Chã de São Jorge.
Approximately 20 residents were evacuated around 9:32 PM and relocated to the parish council headquarters.
Around 40 residents from Paradela, in the parish of Entre Ambos-os-Rios, “began to be evacuated from their homes around 10:30 PM and were moved to the school center.”
According to the website of the National Authority for Emergency and Civil Protection (ANEPC), as of 10:38 PM, the fire that broke out on Saturday night was being tackled by 630 operatives, supported by 211 vehicles.
The Peneda-Gerês National Park (PNPG) spans the districts of Braga (municipality of Terras de Bouro), Viana do Castelo (municipalities of Melgaço, Arcos de Valdevez, and Ponte da Barca), and Vila Real (municipality of Montalegre), covering a total area of approximately 70,290 hectares.
