A relentless wildfire, now blazing for four days, has plunged Portugal into a state of emergency as hundreds of firefighters’ race to control the inferno. With temperatures soaring to record highs and a scorching heatwave engulfing the Iberian Peninsula, both Portugal and neighbouring Spain are grappling with the devastating consequences of climate change.
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The escalating heatwaves, droughts, and wildfires striking the Iberian Peninsula are emblematic of the region’s vulnerability to the impacts of climate change. In central Portugal’s Santarem, the mercury surged to an alarming 46.4 degrees Celsius (115.5 degrees Fahrenheit) on Monday – a new record for the year 2023, as indicated by provisional data from the meteorological office. Forecasts painted a similar picture for Portugal on Tuesday, with some areas predicted to experience temperatures of 40 degrees Celsius.
