Portugal, host of the 2024 SBC Summit, declares state of emergency due to wildfires

Lisbon, the capital of Portugal, will host the 2024 SBC Summit, which will take place between September 24 and 26. However, the country is in a state of emergency due to wildfires that are ravaging several regions.

Since last weekend, fires affected more than 10 thousand acres in the north and center of Portugal, between the regions of Porto and Aveiro. On Tuesday (17), André Fernandes, the country’s national civil protection authority, stated that there were more than 65 active fires.

Fires affect Portugal’s population

The fires are affecting not only Portugal’s forest regions, but also the country’s population. For exemple, police closed the main road between Lisbon and Porto due to the risk of traveling through the region. The fires destroyed dozens of houses and, according to Fernandes, forced at least 70 residents of Aveiro to leave their homes over the past week. Many schools in Gondomar, near Porto, did not open on Tuesday due to the fires.

Local newspapers reported that hospitals in the affected regions are receiving a large number of people with burns, breathing difficulties and other symptoms related to the fires. 

“The situation is not out of control, but it is very complex,” said Fernandes.

Deaths in the fires

More than five thousand firefighters are battling the fires that are raging across Portugal. Sadly, three of them lost their lives in the battle in Tábua, Coimbra. Luís Montenegro, Portugal’s Prime Minister, said that the vehicle they were traveling in caught fire. However, he did not make it clear whether it had crashed beforehand. The accident also injured two other firefighters. 

Montenegro issued a note of condolence and said he was “deeply saddened” by the deaths of firefighters Sonia Cláudia Melo, Paulo Jorge Santos and Susana Cristina Carvalho.

EU helps combat the fires

Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission since 2019, said the bloc was “urgently mobilizing” and urged other countries to help fight the fires in Portugal. The European Union (EU) already sent eight planes to help contain the blazes. 

Portugal also has 30 water bombing aircrafts and has mobilized more than 1,500 fire trucks to fight the fires. In a post on X, Montenegro thanked France, Greece, Italy and Spain for their “rapid and essential help in combating this plague”.

Global warming

Portugal and Spain have registered fewer fires this year, mainly due to a wet and rainy start of the year. However, these countries remain vulnerable to fires when the weather is dry and hot, which is also driven by global warming. Since the beginning of the industrial era, the planet’s average temperature increased by around 1.1°C and is expected to continue rising in the coming years.

inplaySoft at the SBC Summit in Portugal

This year’s SBC Summit will take place in Lisbon, Portugal, from September 24 to 26. The event will bring together over 450 speakers and 600 exhibitors to discuss the latest developments in the iGaming industry.

InplaySoft will be on stand D110 to showcase its cutting-edge technology and tailored services specifically for iGaming operators, particularly those looking to capitalize on the newly regulated Brazilian market. Our platform offers a comprehensive suite of services, including sports betting, casino games and player protection tools. In addition, we also offer seamless integration with existing systems, giving operators the flexibility they need to manage their offerings.