Interview SIC News
The Secretary of State for Civil Protection, Rui Rocha, Rechoes, in an interview with SIC Notícias, That, this year, have emerged “Abnormal circumstances”, as dried thunderstorms and “convective” windswhich have aggravated the fire situation.
The North and Center of Portugal large dimensions. The government has been the target of criticism And, in the face of the many accusations, Rui Rocha, Secretary of State for Civil Protection, guarantees, in the antenna of SIC Notícias, that the executive has given “A positive answer,” however admits flaws.
The Secretary of State begins with observe that “there is no memory” in this century of a period so prolonged of adverse weather conditions.
From tonight, note, temperatures will decrease and moisture will descend, so the Alert situation will not be prolonged.
“It is these aspects that led us not to extend the warning situation, also tense the conscience that also conscience that we are already in a prolonged period and also has consequences from the point of view of Some activities that are conditioned, ”he explains.
For being a mayor in Ansião, including in 2017, guarantees to know what the affliction and the drama of having flames everywhere ”isbut points out that there have always been “four or five large fires” that simultaneously mobilize thousands of operationalwhich is why, often, some populations do not receive immediate assistance.
Recognize yet that this year If they have verified “abnormal circumstances”, as dried thunderstorms and “convective” windswhich have aggravated the fire situation.
There may have been “some momentary uncoordination ”
Asked if the government spoke in the preparation of this time of year, Rui Rocha admits that “There may be some momentary uncoordination” due to the “complexity of the theater of operations”:
“What the device, the way it has answered, despite all these incidences, I think it has been a positive response. With the gaps we have verified, but in fact, trying to balance a whole national device.”
The Secretary of State understands that the Government “must prepare a set of policies”namely “prevention, the organization of the territory, the valorization of the forest and the collective responsibility.”
The president of the Fire Department considers that in recent days, a national command has been missing, a criticism that is not validated by Rui Rocha, who recalls that the National Commander of Civil Protection has, almost daily, coming to publicform the population about the situation that plagues the country and often moves to the affected territories.
Once again, it states that the forecasts for the coming days are encouraging:
“Today we have five active fires. It is a much lower number than what has been harassing us at previous times, with 10 or 12 theater operations, and therefore, we are confident that it will also be possible to make a way to rest the device, which has to be, if it has been allowed for maximum load for 25 days, and therefore, I am sure that with the most favorable meteorological conditions it will also be possible balancing any occurrences that may happen.”
Activation of the European mechanism was late?
The executive led by Luís Montenegro activated the European Civil Protection mechanism after a period of more than two weeks to combat the flames, a decisionThey have not escaped criticism.
On this matter, the Secretary of State explains that this It is “a last resort mechanism” And remember that Bruxelas “There is no batch of aircraft that is available to distribute” by Member States.
“Give note that when we had the information that two canadairs were damaged, immediately we tried the bilateral agreement with Spain. Support to collect this circumstance, which immediately came with the two canadairesnot from Spain, but from the kingdom of Morocco, which are until tomorrow. They extended their stay and are with us. We managed, after triggering the European mechanism, the fire Sweden Bosses, which already today he had to operate, and we had Today the information that also, starting tomorrow, can arrive a heavy helicopter”, informa.
In recent days, he laments, the big problem has not been the lack of air media, but the fact that aircraft cannot operate due to lack of conditions:
“This is the greatest anguish we have. It is realizing that we have the means, but realize that we do not have the conditions at very determining times for a particular theater of operations.”
Again about the European Civil Protection Mechanism, Rui Rocha explains that a Activation need was signaled on Friday.
The Secretary of State also states that the Minister of Economy, the Assistant Minister and Cohesion and the Minister of Agriculture “are already conducting the survey to study the form of support ”to the people affected by the fires.
