“We have been monitoring the situation in Portugal with particular concern, namely in our crisis management center here at the Commission. We have been in close contact with the Portuguese authorities”, said the institution's spokesman for the area of ​​crisis management, Balazs Ujvari.

Speaking at the European Commission's press conference in Brussels, Balazs Ujvari said that Brussels has already mobilised the European Union's Earth Observation Programme, the Copernicus satellite system, to allow the Portuguese authorities to better assess the situation on the ground and verify the scale of the affected areas, as well as the European Civil Protection Mechanism, which makes it possible to provide support in the fight against the flames, such as air resources.

“We will continue in contact with the Portuguese authorities and if additional help is needed, we will not hesitate to mobilise it as soon as possible”, said the official.

On Sunday, the European Commission mobilised two Spanish planes to fight fires in Portugal, which triggered the European Civil Protection Mechanism, announced the community executive.

“Portugal activated the European Civil Protection Mechanism to request emergency assistance for fires in the central part of the country,” the European Commission said in a statement.

“As an immediate response, the European Commission this morning mobilized two Canadair firefighting planes from its fleet located in Spain,” he said.