Portugal’s Foreign Affairs Ministry expressed its gratitude on Wednesday to Morocco for contributing to international efforts to combat the wildfires that have ravaged the country in recent days.
In a post on X, the Ministry mentioned Morocco on a list of governments that have offered resources to control the blaze. The list includes Spain, Italy, France, and. “This essential support is a recognized example of solidarity,” the post reads.
On Wednesday, Morocco deployed Canadair water-bombing planes to assist Portugal in combating the devastating wildfires that have swept across central and northern regions of the country since the weekend, claiming seven lives.
As of Tuesday afternoon, approximately 4,200 firefighters were battling nearly 50 wildfires, which have been fueled by strong winds. Around 50 people have been injured or suffered burns. The fires have also led to the closure of two major railway lines and parts of the main road between Lisbon and Porto.
André Fernandes, commander of Portugal’s National Civil Protection, reported that three firefighters—two women and one man—were trapped by the flames near Nelhas, in the Viseu region of northern Portugal.
Duarte Costa, a Portuguese politician and co-chair of the Volt Portugal party, stated: “We are facing a dire situation, operating at the limits of our capabilities. We are therefore requesting support from the European Union, Spain, and Morocco.”