Viana do Castelo, Portugal, Aug. 18, 2025 (Lusa) - VianaFestas decided on Monday to postpone the fireworks serenade of the Romaria d'Agonia to a date to be determined. The event was previously rescheduled for Wednesday due to the extension, for the fourth time, of the alert situation due to the forest fires that are ravaging the country.
"We understand the disappointment that this decision may cause our population and our visitors, but we made the decision with a sense of responsibility and with the common good in mind, at a time when the situation is affecting thousands of families across the country, and given the risk that remains," explained Manuel Vitorino, president of VianaFestas, the entity that organises Viana do Castelo's festivities, and councillor for Culture.
He acknowledged that he would like to see the serenade, but emphasised that the current situation the country is going through "forces everyone to take responsibility, even if we apparently think we're immune or not so careful". "At the moment we're studying an alternative and we're going to announce a programme for the use of fireworks soon, that's our commitment," he says.
"At the moment, we're talking about less than 24 hours away from the end of the state of alert, as it's defined today, and nothing can ensure how it will evolve. That's why the most responsible decision is to postpone this moment and announce in due course how we're going to reschedule an event that is a hallmark of Viana do Castelo," Manuel Vitorino said.
The fireworks are traditionally launched from the Eiffel Bridge over the River Lima.
Mainland Portugal has been affected by multiple rural fires since July, especially in the North and Centre regions, in a context of high temperatures that led to the declaration of an alert situation on 2 August.
The fires have caused two deaths, including a firefighter, and several injuries, most of them minor, and have totally or partially destroyed first and second homes, as well as agricultural and livestock holdings and forest areas.
Portugal has activated the European Civil Protection Mechanism, under which two Fire Boss aeroplanes are due to arrive on Monday to reinforce the fight against the fires.
According to provisional official figures, by 17 August, 172,000 hectares had burned in the country, more than the area burned in the whole of 2024.
ABC/ADB // ADB.
Lusa
