The Portuguese Institute of the Sea and the Atmosphere (IPMA) has categorised the district of Faro and the archipelago of Madeira under a yellow warning as the temperatures keep soaring.
According to the authority, both regions will remain under a yellow warning until Thursday, with high temperatures being the main factor, SchengenVisaInfo.com reports.
IPMA also reveals that Lisbon will be under the same category, and more than 50 municipalities in the North and Centre region, as well as the Altro Alentejo and the Algarve, risk being captured by fires.
The risk of wildfires has increased significantly across the southern European countries. In the last few weeks, nine casualties were recorded in southern Europe, while the number of victims in Northern Africa alone has almost reached 40 due to extreme weather conditions.
More specifically, two pilots died while combating spreading fires on the Greek island of Rhodes, while thousands of residents were evacuated from their homes and a dozen flights returning tourists back home were operated.
Wildfires in Italy caused three casualties in the southern part of the country, in addition to considerable damages while the number of victims caused by storms that occurred in the last weeks has reached four, including a 16-year-old that was on a camping trip.
This has been one of the worst weeks of the year for Greece, as it was dealing with the wildfires that scarred the land as well as made the air heavily polluted.
The extreme weather conditions are expected to have a serious impact on the country’s tourism industry, which generates about ten per cent of the country’s GDP.
SchengenVisaInfo.com previously reported that the soaring temperatures in Greece might drift tourists away, who will be seeking cooler climates. According to the European Travel Commission (ETC), tourists to Europe have rather shifted their interest to countries like Denmark, Ireland as well as the Czech Republic, instead of France, Greece and Italy, which are known for being popular Mediterranean destinations for holidaymakers.
Regardless of the destination, it is highly advisable to purchase travel insurance as wildfires threaten some of the most beloved destinations in Europe.
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Source : Schengen Visa
