Portuguese municipalities open cooling shelters amid extreme heat

Municipalities across Portugal activated a range of protective measures as a red‑heat alert warned of temperatures up to 44 °C. The city of Maia set up a green‑line phone service, free transport and climate‑controlled rooms for isolated elders. Fronteira opened multiple municipal buildings as temporary cooling shelters, while Lisbon prepared two pavilions and kept three metro stations open overnight for homeless people. In Samora Correia, the parish hall was made available for vulnerable residents, and in Coimbra a network of temporary shelters and public water points was opened in town halls, markets, churches and other venues. Matosinhos opened its churches from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and coordinated water distribution and police outreach. All actions target elderly, people with chronic illnesses, children, homeless individuals and others unable to keep their homes cool. The measures complement a national alert declared by the government and the Institute Portuguese of Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA), which placed several districts under the highest fire‑risk level.