guarantees are necessary to prevent ash mantle pollution
In the aftermath of the devastating forest fires that have swept through several Portuguese municipalities, concerns about potential landslides and contaminated water are rising. The focus is particularly on the Comunidade Intermunicipal of Dão-Lafões, which includes Aguiar da Beira, Seia, and Trancoso.
Luciano Ribeiro, the president of the Seia Chamber, has highlighted the urgency of immediate intervention in some critical sites to prevent future damage. He expressed his concerns about the forest fires that started in Piodão and crossed the Natural Park of Serra da Estrela. Seia, a municipality affected by the fires, is already working on some priority interventions to minimize and mitigate risks to populations and their property.
Trancoso, another member of the intermunicipal community, is facing a particularly concerning situation due to the complete burning of the banks of the Teja dam, which supplies the entire municipality with water. Amílcar Salvador, the mayor of Trancoso, shares the same concern about ash contaminating the public water supply network. The first rains are expected soon, and there is concern about the potential contamination of water lines due to ash from the burned areas.
Luciano Ribeiro also emphasized that everything depends on when it rains. He stated that many mayors who participated in a meeting in Trancoso are familiar with this situation due to previous years' experiences.
In Aguiar da Beira, Virgílio Cunha, president of the Chamber, has emphasized the urgency of securing the Fumadinha dam from potential ash dragging. Approximately 24,000 hectares burned in a border municipality of the district of Guarda, but specific details about the extent of the forest fires in Aguiar da Beira were not provided.
Vítor Proença, president of the Sabugal Chamber, has called for immediate action in collaboration with ICNF and APA to address the aftermath of the recent forest fires. The Portuguese authorities have tasked private security companies and local firefighting units with securing the Teja and Fumadinha reservoirs after the wildfires.
The mayor of Aguiar da Beira expresses optimism about the measures presented by the Minister of Environment and believes the intervention processes on the ground will be faster due to reduced bureaucracy. Luciano Ribeiro, however, expressed a need for less bureaucratic constraints in the post-fire interventions.
In 2005, Seia had a devastating post-fire experience, particularly in Ribeira de Alvoco. This experience serves as a reminder of the importance of swift and effective action in the aftermath of such disasters. As the rains approach, the focus remains on ensuring the safety of the communities and the quality of their water supplies.
