A devastating wildfire struck the picturesque Sintra-Cascais Natural Park in Alcabideche locality, Cascais Municipality, Lisbon District, south-western Portugal, on 25th and 26th July, causing significant casualties and forcing evacuations. The wildfire has been estimated to cover an area of approximately 180 hectares.

As of 27th July, reports indicate that 14 people have been injured, with nine of them being brave firefighters who were battling the flames on the frontlines. In response to the emergency, 100 people were evacuated from the affected areas to ensure their safety.

The firefighting efforts have been robust, with more than 600 firefighters mobilized to combat the wildfire. Additionally, a dozen aircraft and 189 vehicles have been deployed to support the firefighting operations and contain the spread of the inferno.

Despite the immense scale of the blaze, there has been no reported damage to homes, indicating that authorities' swift actions have helped protect residential areas from the encroaching flames.

However, the situation remains challenging, as the National authorities have issued warnings of continued high fire danger for the next 48 hours. This forecast highlights the need for ongoing vigilance and preparedness to prevent further escalation of the wildfire and safeguard the lives and properties of the local residents.

As the firefighting efforts continue and authorities monitor the situation closely, the community and rescue personnel are working together to mitigate the impact of the wildfire and restore safety and stability to the affected regions.