95% of the perimeter of the fire that has raged in the Serra de Monchique, since Friday, 3 August, is "under control", but there are still "some hot spots" in that area that could lead to rekindling, said Vítor Vaz Pinto, operational commander of the Algarve, in the current situation made a few moments ago in the Centro de Meios de Loulé.
For his part, Jorge Botelho, president of the District Civil Protection Commission of Faro, said he was "confident in the troops on the ground" fighting the fire.
The mayor added that, at this time, "15 to 20 thousand hectares" will have already burned, most of them "from 15:00 pm" on this Sunday afternoon, when the fire got worse, having been at the gates of the town of Monchique .
Vítor Vaz Pinto, operational commander of the Algarve, said, in turn, that the 5% of the fire that has not yet been controlled is "in an area inaccessible to land resources" and of "high danger".
This situation becomes even more dangerous due to the fact that, due to the thick smoke that hangs over the area, the aerial means cannot operate in the most inaccessible areas. The helicopters are even stopped at the Monchique helipad, waiting for safe conditions to be able to lift and help fight the flames.
The 24 people who were injured by the fire have "prospects of recovery", he said. Jorge Botelho referred to this fire as a «serious episode that affected two municipalities in the Algarve: Monchique and Silves». But the fire also spread to the neighboring municipality of Odemira, in Alentejo.
According to the Civil Protection website, 1164 are fighting the fire, supported by 357 vehicles.
Photos: Golden Gonçalo | Sul Informação
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