Portugal has extended its national wildfire alert to August 13 as extreme heat and worsening weather raise fire risks. Restrictions on rural activities, forest access, bonfires, machinery, and fireworks remain in force.

This is the country’s worst fire season since 2022, with over 41,000 hectares burned—eight times more than last year. Authorities blame arson for 14 percent of fires and negligence for 21 percent, according to Xinhua.

The government is considering tougher penalties for fire crimes and has mobilised 72 aircraft, nearly 3,000 firefighters, and hundreds of vehicles to fight 66 active blazes. One firefighter has died and 148 have been injured this year.