By Carlos García
Alvarenga (EFE).- “Everything died,” José Carlos Oliveira, a resident and farmer from Alvarenga (one of the localities of the Unesco Geopark in the municipality of Arouca, which has been one of the areas most affected by the fires that have been ravaging northern Portugal for three days), puts it bluntly.
In statements to EFE, Oliveira laments that these fires, which are still out of control and have devastated thousands of hectares of eucalyptus forest, represent “a tragedy which is ongoing,” as numerous active outbreaks remain in the region, especially in the areas of Nespereira, Pereira, and Vilar de Arca.
“This has caused immense damage,” says the farmer, referring to the destruction of kilometers of wooden walkways over the Paiva River known as the “Passadiços do Paiva,” which attract national and international tourists.
Since 2015, these walkways have attracted a total of 1.8 million visitors, leaving a very positive impact on the local economy.
Patrocínia Mendes, a retiree and resident of Canelas, another village devastated by the flames, describes the situation as “terrible.”
There is fear among the neighbours, although “not so much anymore, because our whole town burned down,” Mendes explains.
Her town is frequented by tourists all year round, both for the “Passadiços do Paiva” and the Fossil Museum.
A deteriorating UNESCO landscape
In general, the area’s inhabitants complain that tourism in this region will have a bleak outlook after the fires, since vegetation devastated by flames currently dominates the municipality’s landscape, which has UNESCO Geopark status.
Numerous mountain villages are concentrated on the slopes of the Sierra in Arouca, which the Paiva River crosses. This river is the area’s main tourist attraction, offering bathing areas in the summer and routes throughout the year.
Although many people in the area work in tourism, residents have become accustomed to and resigned to forest fires, which occur year after year without any definitive solutions.
The fire remains active
On Thursday, after three consecutive days of flames, several outbreaks remained active in Arouca, surrounding the municipality in a dense cloud of smoke as the fire advanced through the municipal areas of Pereira, Nespereira, and Vilar de Arca.
The Arouca fire is the most serious of those that have occurred in northern and central Portugal this week, with 566 firefighters, 211 ground vehicles, and three aerial assets currently deployed there.
The other major active fire, which is also the oldest, is in Ponte da Barca. It started on Jul. 26 and is near the border with Galicia.
Portuguese Civil Protection sent 594 personnel, 187 vehicles, and five aerial assets there on Thursday. EFE
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