"There was no communication failure. There was an alert about a plane crash and the proper protocol was followed", Vítor Vaz Pinto said at the first briefing of the day for reporters at the command post in Avelar, near Leiria.

He also said that overnight the more favourable weather conditions meant that 95% of the perimeter of the theatre of operations was under surveillance and only 5% was actively burning, with great potential risk.