A rare phenomenon has been recorded again in the wildfires ravaging mainland Portugal. This time, near Aguiar da Beira in the Guarda district, a fire tornado was witnessed on the night of Friday, August 15.
The phenomenon was shared on social media, and as seen in the video, a swirling column formed amidst the flames.
A fire tornado occurs when intense heat from a wildfire causes the surrounding air to heat up, creating a vortex that contains not only flames but also ash and debris.
The wildfire in question began in the early hours of Wednesday in Vila Boa, in the municipality of Sátão, Viseu, and spread the same day to the municipalities of Sernancelhe and Aguiar da Beira.
It is noteworthy that this is not the first time a fire tornado has been recorded in Portugal. The phenomenon previously occurred on Saturday, August 9, during the Moimenta da Beira fire in the Viseu district.
The Moimenta da Beira wildfire in the Viseu district has lasted more than 24 hours, endangering homes early on Saturday. In the afternoon, images of the known fire tornado phenomenon were shared.
Notícias ao Minuto | 20:23 – 09/08/2025
Alert Situation Extended Until 11:59 PM Sunday
On Thursday, Minister of Internal Administration Maria Lúcia Amaral announced that the government has decided to extend the alert situation due to the wildfires until Sunday, August 17.
The minister also emphasized that all restrictions and prohibitions imposed by the elevated fire risk alert remain in force.
Portugal has been under a fire risk alert since August 2.
The Minister of Internal Administration noted that the “adversity shows no signs of leaving us tomorrow,” thus deciding to extend the alert situation until Sunday, August 17, due to the wildfires.
Márcia Guímaro Rodrigues | 19:02 – 14/08/2025
Wildfires: Burned Area Second Largest Since 2017
By Thursday, August 14, the wildfires had consumed approximately 75,000 hectares, more than half of which burned in the past three weeks, according to provisional data from the Institute for Nature Conservation and Forests (ICNF).
The burned area this year is nine times larger than in the same period last year and the second largest since 2017.
Until today, wildfires have consumed about 75,000 hectares, more than half burning in the last three weeks, according to provisional ICNF data.
Lusa | 10:42 – 14/08/2025
Fires Already Claimed One Fatality
Carlos Dâmaso, the former mayor of Vila Franca do Deão, was the first fatality caused by the wildfires raging for several days in mainland Portugal. Reactions to his death came from the President of the Republic, the government, and political parties.
The former mayor of Vila Franca do Deão was the first fatality caused by this year’s wildfires. Carlos Dâmaso died while “defending his village and its people.”
Maria Gouveia with Lusa | 08:00 – 16/08/2025
