Urgent appeal of the Polish embassy in Portugal. Tourists must be ready to evacuate!

The Polish embassy in Portugal issued an urgent message addressed to tourists in the country. Due to the evidence heat wave and highly advanced fire risk, the diplomatic service calls for peculiar caution and ruthless compliance with the recommendations of local services. The situation is so serious that Poles must be prepared for the anticipation of evacuation from endangered areas. evidence temperatures, exceeding 46 degrees Celsius, led to tens of fires fought by Portuguese firefighters.

The appeal is simply a direct consequence to the dramatic weather conditions prevailing on the Iberian Peninsula for nearly a week. The Portuguese Institute of the Sea and Atmospherics (IPMA) confirmed that June enrolled in the past of measurements as a period with evidence advanced temperatures, both maximum and minimal. For tourists, this means not only the discomfort associated with the heat, but above all a real threat to wellness and life due to rapidly spreading forest and agricultural fires. The Embassy stresses that monitoring messages and the readiness to act immediately is crucial.

Record heat wave and historical temperatures

Portugal faces an unprecedented heat wave that broke historical records. According to authoritative data of the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and Atmospheric (IPMA) until in 34% of weather stations in the country reported in June the highest temperatures in the past of measurements. The scale of the phenomenon is tremendous and affects practically the full Iberian Peninsula, but Portugal is experiencing the most utmost conditions.

The heat wave apogee came on Sunday, June 29. In the village Mora, in the mediate of the country, thermometers indicated as much as 46.6 degrees Celsius. This is 1 of the highest temperatures always recorded in Portugal this month. Equally worrying are the data on the minimum temperatures, which show the absence of night cooling. The same day in the city of Portalegre recorded the highest in June past the minimum temperature, which at night did not fall below Grade 33,5 Celsius. This situation prevents regeneration and poses a serious wellness risk, especially for the elderly, children and people with chronic diseases.

IPMA experts inform that so long lasting advanced temperatures, exceeding 40 degrees Celsius in many regions, combined with low humidity and wind, make perfect conditions for the formation and fast spread of fires. It was these weather data that became the basis for issuing the highest degree alerts and the appeal of the Polish diplomatic mission.

A immense fire hazard. Firefighters Fight the Element

The direct and most dangerous consequence of evidence heat is an highly advanced fire risk. Dried-out vegetation, forests and agricultural areas become flammable material, and a spark is adequate to ignite the fire. The situation is dynamic and very serious. On Wednesday morning, the Portuguese Fire and Defence Service (Proteção Civil) informed about combating more than 20 active fires all over the country.

The most hard situation is in the northern and central parts of Portugal, where the biggest outbreaks are concentrated. Fires digest hundreds of hectares of forests, meadows and crops, threatening not only nature, but besides infrastructure and human settlements. Local media regularly print images of dense smoke hovering over villages and towns, and in any cases it was already essential to close roads and prevent the residents from being evacuated from their most endangered homes.

The Portuguese authorities introduced the highest degree of fire alert, which means, among others, the ban on entry into forests, the usage of open fire or the conduct of field work capable of sparking. Nevertheless, the hazard of spontaneous fires remains “very high”. It is in this context that the appeal of the Polish embassy should be read – the threat is not theoretical, but real and present here and now.

PLENTY announcement from the Polish Embassy. What do Poles request to know?

In the face of an expanding crisis, the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Lisbon published an urgent message addressed to Polish citizens residing in Portugal. Its content is unambiguous and calls for maximum vigilance. "Portugal has evidence temperatures. There is simply a very advanced hazard of spontaneous fires. Follow local service recommendations, including evacuation procedures" – reads the authoritative appeal.

What does this mean in practice for tourists? The Embassy points to 3 key actions that each Pole should take:

• Absolute adherence to local service recommendations: The messages of the Portuguese civilian Protection (Autoridade Nacional de Emergęncia e Proteção civilian – ANEPC), Guarda Nacional Republicana (GNR) and local authorities should be kept under constant monitoring. If an order is issued to leave the area, this should be done immediately and without discussion.
• Prepared for evacuation procedures: This is the most crucial point of the appeal. Tourists should be prepared to leave the hotel, guesthouse or campsite abruptly. This means having packed the most crucial things specified as documents, money, medicines, powerbank telephone and water.
• Regular emergency check: The embassy recommends active monitoring of fire hazard maps, which are available on IPMA and ANEPC websites. This will avoid travel to regions with the highest risk.

Ignoring these recommendations can lead to tragic consequences. Rescue services are highly dense and the fast rate of fire spread can cut off escape routes.

How to prepare for evacuation? applicable tips for tourists

The “ready for evacuation procedures” message may sound alarming, but appropriate preparation helps to minimise stress and increase safety. If you are in Portugal, especially in agrarian or forested regions, take the following steps:

1. make an escape back: Prepare a tiny bag or backpack where absolutely essential items will be found. It should be ready to take at any time.

• Documents: Passports, IDs, driver's license, plane tickets. It is besides worth having their digital copies on your telephone or on your email.
• Money and credit cards.
• Medicines needed: If you are taking any medicine permanently, make certain you have a supply for a fewer days.
• Telephone and powerbank: The charged telephone is key to communication and obtaining information.
• Water and advanced energy snacks (e.g. bars).
• Basic medical kit.

2. Monitor reliable sources of information: Don't trust on gossip. Check the authoritative websites of Portuguese services regularly:

• ANEPC (Civil Defense): prociv.pt – you will find here current messages and a map of fires.
• IPMA: ipma.pt – check the weather forecast and fire hazard maps here.

3. research the surroundings and plan your escape route: Find out what the main exit routes are from where you are staying. Keep your head on an alternate way in case the main road closes. Inform your loved ones in Poland about your exact location and plans. Enter the emergency telephone number in Portugal – 112 and the emergency number of the Polish consulate.