Smoke from Portugal wildfires to reach south-west France
Clouds of smoke will be visible but are not said to pose any health issues
The wildfires are some of the most devastating in Portugal's history
Eugene R Thieszen/Shutterstock
Smoke plumes from wildfires that have been ravaging Portugal since last weekend have made their way across the Iberian peninsula, and will reach south-west France this weekend.
Observations from the Copernicus European observatory stated on Thursday that the smoke would move across the Bay of Biscay and towards western France over the coming days, mostly affecting south-western areas.
The observatory says the smoke is not dangerous, and will not affect air quality levels in the areas it passes over, although it may be visible with the naked eye.
The wildfires began last weekend in the north and centre of Portugal, and have killed at least seven people, and injured 50 more.
Tens of thousands of hectares of land has burned, and prime minister Luís Montenegro has declared a ‘state of calamity’ in the country, mobilising additional resources and firefighters from Spain and Morocco.
In addition, the fires have caused the highest-ever carbon emissions in the month of September in Portugal, burning over 1.9 million tonnes before September 18.
The previous record was 1 million tonnes across the entire month.
Across Europe – including in France – wildfire season was largely avoided at the beginning of summer due to a wet spring.
Read more: Why so few forest fires this summer in France despite heatwaves?
However, warm temperatures throughout August and September saw fires. Around 400 hectares of land in southern France, close to the Spanish border, were destroyed by wildfires last week.
Read more: One of France’s oldest and ‘plus beaux’ hilltop villages evacuated due to wildfire
