Portugal warns of heat wave, urges fire prevention and public safety

President António José Seguro appealed to all Portuguese to take preventive measures as a heat wave is forecast for the coming days. He urged citizens to stay hydrated, protect vulnerable groups, and follow instructions from health and civil‑protection authorities.

The government raised the civil‑protection alert to level 3, the second‑highest tier, which mobilises additional firefighting resources and operational readiness. Officials warned against open fires, barbecues, the use of agricultural machinery in dry fields, and careless handling of cigarettes, stressing that such actions could trigger deadly wildfires. SMS alerts will be sent to the public to keep them informed of dangerous conditions.

The Ministry of Internal Administration emphasized that the special readiness level will remain in force until the heat subsides, coordinating logistics and response efforts across the country.