Lisbon, Sep 18 (EFE).- Spain on Wednesday sent 230 soldiers to help contain forest fires that have killed at least seven people in neighboring Portugal.
A source from the Portuguese Ministry of Internal Administration told EFE that the Spanish troops arrived early Wednesday morning.
The same source added that two Canadair amphibious planes from Morocco would join the Portuguese operations.
The Portuguese government declared a state of emergency on Tuesday night in response to the wildfires, which began at the weekend and have mainly affected the north and center of the country.
The measure was approved at an extraordinary council of ministers to provide “immediate and urgent support” to areas affected by the fires, Portuguese Prime Minister Luis Montenegro explained after the meeting.
He also did not rule out turning to the EU Solidarity Fund and promised to punish people found to have started the fires.
“We will spare no effort in repressive action. We cannot forgive those who have no forgiveness”, the prime minister said.
The National Republican Guard (GNR) announced Tuesday that seven people had been arrested for arson. The Judicial Police has also made several arrests for the same crime.
Dozens of people have been injured and evacuated and thousands of hectares have been consumed by the fires.
Six Canadair aircraft from Spain, France and Italy, requested through the European Union’s Civil Protection Mechanism, are taking part in firefighting operations.
The Portuguese National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority has deployed more than 5,000 troops, about 1,600 vehicles and 26 aerial assets. EFE
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