The firefighters hope to have the fire in Cachopo subdued in the next few hours, revealed commander José Ribeiro, from the National Civil Protection Authority, at the briefing with journalists that just took place in that mountain village in the municipality of Tavira.
"This fire maintains four active fronts, two of which are plowing more intensely, namely in the João Farto Valley, Cortelha de Baixo and in the area between Botaréu and Seixos, where we have had some very strong reactivations", pointed out Commander José Ribeiro.
The commander added that the main difficulties faced by the firefighters have been "the large perimeter and the terrain relief", that is, the fact that it is a very extensive fire in a very rugged mountain range.
At this moment, and according to the situation report made a few minutes ago, the fire is being fought by 414 operational, 130 vehicles, six aerial means (two heavy helicopters, an Air Force coordination helicopter, two amphibious planes, and a Canadian plane Spanish). Another amphibious plane suffered a breakdown while trying to replenish itself with water at the Roxo Dam, and had to dock, becoming inoperative.
In turn, two helicopters were diverted into the fires that broke out this afternoon in Almada de Ouro (Castro Marim) and Alportel (São Brás). These fires, guaranteed José Ribeiro, have nothing to do with the Tavira fire.
In addition to firefighters from corporations throughout the Algarve, operational from Beja, Setúbal, Évora and Lisbon were also mobilized, as well as five military platoons, which are helping in the aftermath operations.
Jorge Botelho, mayor of Tavira, for his part, said that 17 people had been evacuated from the Castelão and Feiteira hills, near Cachopo, as a precaution. These people were accommodated in nursing homes in Barranco do Velho and Cachopo.
In the area there are several roads cut off for safety reasons due to fire. They are the EN124, between Cachopo and Feiteira, the Municipal Road 397, which connects Cachopo to Tavira, and the National Road 392, cut in the Monte da Ribeira area.
Photo: Carlos Filipe de Souza
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