In statements to the Lusa news agency, a source from the GNR's Beja Territorial Command indicated that the section of the “EN2 between Aljustrel and Castro Verde [was] closed to traffic, in both directions”, due to the fire.

“There are alternative ways of getting around and GNR officers are on site diverting traffic”, added the same source.

The Castro Verde City Council, neighbouring the municipality of Aljustrel, also informed the population in information published on its Facebook page that the EN2 was closed.

“The municipality urges all residents to remain calm and stay away from the fire site, in order to allow the passage and action of the various operators who are on the ground fighting the fire,” the city council wrote.

According to the website of the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority (ANEPC), consulted by Lusa at 5:30 pm, 193 operators were involved in fighting the fire, supported by 62 vehicles and five aircraft.

The fire, which was reported at 1:09 pm, broke out in a forested area in Monte do Cerro, in the Messejana area, in the municipality of Aljustrel, and six helicopters had already been mobilized, the Civil Protection previously reported.

At around 3:30 pm, a source from the Sub-Regional Emergency and Civil Protection Command of Baixo Alentejo told Lusa that the fire broke out in a forested area.

The same source was unable to indicate at the time the total number of active fire fronts, nor whether the flames were threatening homes.