More than 80 municipalities in the districts of Vila Real, Bragança, Guarda, Coimbra, Santarém, Castelo Branco, Portalegre, and Faro are at maximum risk of fire.
The IPMA has also placed several municipalities in the northern and central interior and Algarve regions at very high risk.
A decrease in the risk is expected in the coming days, according to IPMA.
The fire risk determined by IPMA has five levels, ranging from reduced to maximum, with the latter issued when weather conditions, such as extreme heat and low humidity, significantly increase the danger of fire ignition and spread.
Mainland Portugal has been affected by multiple rural fires since July, especially in the North and Central regions, amid high temperatures that prompted the declaration of an alert situation since August 2.
On Sunday, the Minister of Internal Administration, Maria Lúcia Amaral, announced that the alert situation due to the increased fire risk was extended until 24:00 today.
The fires have resulted in two fatalities, including a firefighter, and several injuries, mostly minor. They have also caused the total or partial destruction of primary and secondary residences, as well as agricultural and livestock operations and forest areas.
According to provisional official data, as of August 19, 201,419 hectares have burned in the country, more than the total burned area in the entire year 2024.
