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Rabat – Morocco has sent two Canadair firefighting planes to Portugal to help combat ongoing wildfires.
The Portuguese Ministry of Internal Administration released a statement yesterday saying it activated a bilateral cooperation agreement on civil protection with Morocco after two Canadair planes rented by Portugal broke down.
“The Kingdom of Morocco responded promptly, making available two Canadair aircraft, which will arrive in national territory later today and will become part of the Special Rural Firefighting Device (DECIR) until the end of this week,” reads the statement.
Portugal initially sought assistance from Spain, but this was not possible as the country is also battling worsening wildfires.
According to the National Authority for Emergency and Civil Protection, the broken planes in Portugal require technical repairs but should return to service by the end of the week.
The Portuguese government thanked Morocco for its quick support and said it remains committed to ensuring the safety of people, property, and the country’s territory.
Portugal is grappling with a severe wildfire crisis, with multiple large blazes threatening homes and forcing a massive emergency response.
In the municipality of Trancoso, a fire fueled by soaring temperatures and strong winds has endangered at least four villages, prompting the deployment of more than 650 firefighters, 226 vehicles, and six helicopters. Local media reported that 17 people, including six firefighters, have been injured.
Wildfires have also broken out in the municipality of Covilhã, where nearly 400 firefighters are battling flames in the village of Sobral de São Miguel.
Another 86 firefighters have been sent to tackle a blaze in the village of Távora and Pereiro. The National Authority for Emergency and Civil Protection has warned that the risk of fire remains high across the country.
Portugal has been under intense heat since July, with much of the mainland placed under orange weather alerts. As of mid-July, wildfires had already burned over 10,700 hectares of land, three times more than in the same period last year. Officials say fires have become more aggressive since 2017, making containment efforts increasingly challenging.
