The fire that broke out in the municipality of Odemira in the Beja region last August caused damage “about 15 million euros,” Territorial Unity Minister Ana Abrunhosa said on Tuesday.
“According to the first estimate, we are talking about about 15 million, including housing – first and second housing, losses in agriculture, losses in tourism and losses in forests,” the minister said.
“We will describe these losses in more detail, and it is quite normal that this figure will increase slightly,” he added.
The minister spoke to journalists in Odemira, where she met at the end of the day in the main hall of Pacos do Conselho with the presidents of the chambers of Odemira, Aljezur and Monchique, who are also located in the Faro district, as well as representatives of a number of government organizations and local associations.
The meeting was also attended by the Minister of Nature Conservation and Forests João Paulo Catarino, the Minister of Housing Fernanda Rodrigues and the Minister of Agriculture Gonçalo Rodrigues.
The meeting was announced in August, after the fire, and was intended to take stock of the damage caused by the blaze.
For the three municipalities, “the estimate is around 15 million euros,” according to Ana Abrunhos. [de prejuízos]what else will have to be agreed upon.”
“That is, there are areas where we still have to do more “subtle” work,” he assured.
The Minister of Territorial Unity determined that the “top priority” is the restoration of the first houses completely damaged by the fire, for a total of eight affected families, “which will be supported through the Porta de Dentro program.”
“After that, we are already working with municipalities on emergency land stabilization, because when the rains come, we have to prevent even more soil degradation and more serious situations from occurring,” he added.
Regarding the tourism sector, the minister explained that many of the affected sites “have insurance”, and the part not covered by insurance companies may be subject to non-refundable support “at a rate of 70%” through the Tourism Commission. Coordination and regional development of Alentejo and Algarve.
Continuing to work in the tourism sector, Ana Abrunosa reported that a working group has already been created at the local level to work on the attractiveness of the territory, which “after the pandemic had problems with the reputation and image of the destination.”
Regarding agriculture, the minister recalled that “support for feeding” the livestock has already been provided and the order has not yet been issued. [com os apoios] for beekeepers.”
“Then they will [definidos] support for restoring productive capacity,” he added, explaining that this would “restore lost trees, fences, irrigation systems, machinery and agricultural equipment.”
The government’s plans also include the creation of an Integrated Landscape Management Area (AIGP) covering the three municipalities and also involving private parties who could have 100% non-repayable funding under the Recovery and Resilience Plan.
After Tuesday’s meeting, the Minister of Territorial Unity said that a final assessment of the damage caused by the fire would be made “in 15 days” and that a new meeting would be held within “a month.”
The fire in the municipality of Odemira began on August 5 and was declared under control at 10:15 on the 9th, six days after it broke out in a shelterbelt and pine forest in the area of Baiona, in the parish of San Teotoniu.
The fire has engulfed the Algarve municipalities of Monchique and Algesur, and the burned area is about 8,400 hectares within a radius of 50 kilometers.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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