These people are distributed across support centres in Portimao, Monchique village, Marmelete (Monchique county), Silves and Sao Bartolomeu de Messines (Silves county).

There are nine bedridden people who are receiving care in health units in Western Algarve.

Second commander Patrícia Gaspar from National Civil Protection Authority (ANPC) said at a briefing in Monchique that Foia (Monchique county) and the area between Sao Marcos da Serra, Sao Bartolomeu de Messines and Silves are the “hot spots”.

The civil protection is now focusing on guaranteeing “maximum and permanent monitoring” in the entire perimeter, owing to the possibility of new re-ignitions, said Patrícia Gaspar. Aerial reconnaissance is being used, including an aircraft with thermal cameras that can record images.

On the fire’s seventh day and even with the expected temperature decrease for today (24ºC-26ºC), the wind is the operation’s “biggest opponent” and will continue blowing moderately from the North-East with gusts of between 20 and 25km/h, possibly reaching 50km/h.

The number of injured was updated to 36 one of whom is serious, including 19 firefighters with minor injuries from exhaustion, smoke inhalation, and minor sprains.

The fire started last Friday in Monchique and initially spread to the Odemira county (Beja district) where it was quickly taken care of, moving to Portimao where is no longer active. The fire still blazes in Silves.