Recording the highest level of emissions in 22 years.. More than 100 fires in Portugal

Arab Weather - Portugal is experiencing its worst wave of fires in the past decade, with fire and emergency services battling more than 100 active blazes. So far, these fires have destroyed more than 10,000 hectares of land and led to the deaths of 5 people, according to the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority (ANEPC). Most of the fires have been concentrated in the central and northern regions of the country since September 14, with the Aveiro region being the most affected. In cities such as Agueda, the fires are out of control, while other areas such as Sever do Fuga and Oliveira de Azemés need more resources.

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Firefighting efforts in Portugal

More than 5,200 firefighters are currently involved in the effort to extinguish the fires, including 270 members of the Spanish military emergency unit. The European Union Civil Protection Mechanism has also been activated, which has helped deploy eight firefighting aircraft from Spain, France, Greece and Italy.

BREAKING: Arson being used as a weapon of mass destruction in Portugal. Police have just arrested 14 suspected arsonists in connection with these #wildfires in Portugal, just like with 2017, when arsonists were responsible for 36% of the fires that murdered dozens of people.… pic.twitter.com/XphrjVOlfM

— Hotshot - Movie (@Hotshot_Movie) September 19, 2024

Carbon emissions and deteriorating air quality

These fires have caused the highest level of carbon emissions for the month of September in Portugal in 22 years, according to the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS). Total carbon emissions up to September 18 amounted to around 1.9 megatonnes , reflecting the intensity of these fires and their impact on air quality.

The scale of the fires currently burning across Portugal is pretty unfathomable. pic.twitter.com/UIc6lwrj0v

- Nahel Belgherze (@WxNB_) September 17, 2024

climate change impact

Air quality in northern Portugal is expected to deteriorate in the coming days due to high concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM2.5), which are likely to remain high until at least September 25. Climate change is directly linked to the increased frequency of these extreme events, such as the drought currently affecting Portugal, which leads to higher temperatures and facilitates the spread of forest fires. It is worth noting that the Copernicus Climate Change Service confirmed that this summer was the hottest in the history of measurements at both global and European levels.

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