"We maintain two critical points: one to the north, in the Defeira area, which is creating a lot of concern, and also to the south, on the front-facing Monchique", said the regional commander of Emergency and Civil Protection of the Alentejo, José Ribeiro.

These two points "will require a lot of attention and effort from the operators throughout the day", he added, underlining the forecasts of maintenance of high temperatures.

José Ribeiro referred that, after the operations had the defense of the populations as a priority – the GNR has already moved 1,438 citizens as a precaution -, there was an adjustment of the strategic plan and “the work of today will be more focused on the suppression of the fire".