Lisbon, July 6, 2026 (Lusa) - More than 15,000 hectares have been burnt in Portugal over the last five days, with the area burnt having doubled between 1 and 5 July, according to provisional data from the Integrated Rural Fire Management System (SGIFR).

According to SGIFR data obtained by the Lusa news agency, the 4,592 forest fires recorded this year have resulted in 30,155 hectares of burnt area, with more than 15,000 hectares burnt between Wednesday and Sunday.

According to the SGIFR, managed by the Agency for the Integrated Management of Rural Fires, the fires consumed the largest area in the Central region, totalling 14,244 hectares; contributing to these figures was the fire that started in the early hours of Thursday in Vouzela (Viseu) which was only brought under control today. In the Northern region, the total area burnt this year stands at 11,834 ha.

Compared with the same period in 2025, the area burnt has almost quadrupled, with this year’s figure being the highest since 2017.

The number of fires this year has increased by around 70% compared with the same period in 2025, and this is the highest number of fires since 2022.

Data from the SGIFR also indicate that 56% of the area burnt occurred on days with a high risk of fire.

Portugal has been experiencing very high temperatures since last week, with the national meteorological institute placing several regions under a red heat warning.

On Friday, the Government declared a state of alert, which remains in force until midnight today, due to the “significant increase in the risk of rural fires”.

CMP/AYLS // AYLS

Lusa