At this moment of great challenge and solidarity, the AFBV (Forest Association of Beira and Vouga) understands that it is essential to concentrate all efforts on assisting our members and the local community in recovering from this tragedy.
The decision to cancel the event, which was scheduled for Saturday, was made “due to the serious fire situation that is devastating the region, as is publicly known.”
The AFBV management adds that it will communicate a new date for the commemorative event in due course.
AFBV is a private non-profit association of forest owners and producers, headquartered in Albergaria-a-Velha, with about 1,600 members.
Seven people have died and about 120 have been injured in the fires that have been affecting mainly the North and Central regions of the country since Sunday, in the districts of Aveiro, Porto, Vila Real, Braga, Viseu, and Coimbra. These fires have destroyed dozens of houses and forced the closure of roads and highways.
The burned area in mainland Portugal since Sunday exceeds 106,000 hectares, according to the European Copernicus system, which shows that in the North and Central regions, nearly 76,000 hectares have already burned.
The National Authority for Emergency and Civil Protection (ANEPC) counted, at 7:30 PM on Wednesday, 34 active fires, of which 18 were considered “significant” and required more resources. In combating these 18 fires, 2,434 operatives were involved, supported by 734 ground vehicles and 23 aerial means.
The Government has declared a state of calamity in all municipalities affected by the fires in recent days.