Three populations are at risk in the municipality of Mangualde due to the fire that started in Penalva do Castelo and is spreading to the municipality of Nelas, a source from the fire department told Lusa news agency at around 9:30 am.
“The fire that started here in Penalva (do Castelo) crossed Mangualde and is in line with Nelas and, at this moment, there are three populations in Mangualde that are at risk: Mourilhe, Mesquitela and Fundões”, the commander of the Volunteer Firefighters of Penalva do Castelo, district of Viseu, told Lusa news agency.
José Manuel Lopes added that “there is an alert for Freixiosa, on the A25”, which passes between the municipalities of Mangualde and Penalva do Castelo, “given the long extension of the fire”.
The commander of the Nelas Volunteer Firefighters, Guilherme Almeida, told the Lusa news agency that he is “apprehensive about the direction the fire is taking” for the municipality, also taking into account that the municipality is being hit by other outbreaks.
“We are experiencing rekindling in Vale de Madeiros and we have an active front and a lot of difficulty in Carregal do Sal (neighbouring municipality of Nelas) and we have this alignment that comes from Mangualde”, stated Guilherme Almeida.
According to a source from the National Republican Guard (GNR), the fires are forcing traffic to be closed on several roads, such as the Complementary Itinerary 12 (IC12) in Nelas, the A25 (motorway 25) in Mangualde and the national roads (EN) 231 and 329, in Nelas and Penalva do Castelo.
At 9:30 am, the Viseu Dão Lafões Sub-regional Command mobilized 305 operatives, supported by 81 vehicles and three aerial resources, for the Folhadal fire, Nelas, which was alerted at 11:53 am on Monday.
In Penalva do Castelo, the fire that broke out in Miuzela, in the municipality of Penalva do Castelo, at 00:15 on Monday, and which spread to the neighboring municipality of Mangualde, remains active. It involved 153 operatives with 45 vehicles and two aircraft.
Still in the municipality of Penalva do Castelo, district of Viseu, another fire, which started at 8:16 pm on Sunday, also in the bush, in the town of Valamoso, parish of Esmolfe, mobilized 40 operatives, supported by 14 vehicles and an aircraft.
Also in the district of Viseu, in the municipality of Vila Nova de Paiva, starting at 5:18 pm on Monday, in Vila Cova à Coelheira, a fire in a forest population mobilized, at the same time, 73 operators with 19 vehicles and one aircraft.
The fire in Mangualde caused one fatality during the night, due to sudden illness, a source from Civil Protection confirmed to Lusa today. According to a source from the Viseu Dão Lafões Sub-Regional Command, the house did not burn down.
The fire in Nelas has so far left seven people injured, two in serious condition.
Source: rr.sapo.pt
