Tropical storm hits Europe, fuels wildfires in Portugal and Spain, batters Ireland

The remnants of Hurricane Ophelia hit Ireland and parts of the United Kingdom on the 16 October 2017, and made wildfires in parts of Spain and Portugal worse.

The European Commission coordinated voluntary offers made by participating states though the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, and co-financed the transport of relief items and experts to the countries in question, if requested by national authorities.

In Portugal, the civil protection agency said that wildfires in the centre and north of the country had killed 42 people and injured another 71. In total over 100 people had been killed in Portugal over a period of four months during wildfires in the hot and dry summer-autumn of 2017. Portugal's Interior Minister Constanca Urbano de Sousa resigned on the 18 October 2017 due to the political pressure over the handling of the issue in the country.

EurActiv, 31.10.17: Juncker to re-organise civil protection assistance after Portugal’s fires http://www.euractiv.com/section/justice-home-affairs/news/juncker-to-re-organise-civil-protection-assistance-after-portugals-fires/

ESO: Background information: Wildfires are raging in the Mediterranean. What can we learn? (The Conversation, 20.07.17, et al) http://www.europeansources.info/record/wildfires-are-raging-in-the-mediterranean-what-can-we-learn/

CNN, 12.10.17: Ophelia becomes record 10th straight hurricane, heads towards Europe http://edition.cnn.com/2017/10/12/world/hurricane-ophelia-ireland/index.html

Vox, 16.10.17: Wind, rain, and wildfire: the wrath Hurricane Ophelia brought to Europe https://www.vox.com/energy-and-environment/2017/10/16/16482208/wind-rain-wildfire-hurricane-ophelia-europe-ireland-portugal

The Guardian, 16.10.17: At least 30 killed as Ophelia winds fan wildfires in Portugal and Spain https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/16/portugal-spain-wildfires-forest-fires-ophelia-villages-evacuated

European Commission: DG Communication: STATEMENT/17/3968, 16.10.17: Statement by Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management Christos Stylianides on the deadly forest fires and storms in several Member States http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_STATEMENT-17-3968_en.htm

The Guardian, 19.10.17: Portugal: interior minister resigns after wildfires kill 100 https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/19/portugal-interior-minister-resigns-wild-fires-dead

The Portugal News, 19.10.17: Portugal reels from wildfires http://www.theportugalnews.com/news/portugal-reels-from-wildfires/43537

The Portugal News, 21.10.17: Brussels considers Portugal fire expenses 'exceptional' http://www.theportugalnews.com/news/brussels-considers-portugal-fire-expenses-exceptional/43567

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