Through its Copernicus programme, the EU is supporting Portugal to help the authorities fight the forest fires that have been raging in the centre of the country since Saturday, the European Commission announced.
At the request of the Portuguese authorities, the EU has "provided satellite maps of forest fires affecting the Castelo Branco region", said Christos Stylianides, European Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management, on his Twitter account on Sunday 21 July, after having spoken with Interior Minister Eduardo Cabrita.
To date, five maps have been provided, a Commission spokesman said on Monday. These very detailed maps give a precise idea of the location and extent of the damage.
The European Commission remains in close contact with the Portuguese authorities and is closely monitoring the situation, with the EU "ready to increase its assistance if requested by the authorities" using the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. The Emergency Response Coordination Centre (ERCC), based at the Commission's premises, is the nerve centre of this system and operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)