PJ investigates possible signs of crime following a fire at a tourism project in Grandola.

The Judicial Police (PJ) are investigating possible signs of crime in the fire that broke out early Tuesday morning in a tourist complex in the village of Muda, in the municipality of Grandola (Setúbal), damaging four houses without causing damage. no casualties.

Contacted by Lusa, a PJ source said they were called to the scene to assess the site of the fire, which destroyed three houses and caused damage to a fourth.

“We are going to evaluate the scenario to try to understand whether there are signs of a crime,” the same source said.

According to developer Vanguard Properties, the fire occurred in the Muda Reserve project, which is being built near the town of Muda in the Alentejo municipality of Grandol.

In a statement sent to Lusa, the company said it was “taken by surprise this morning by a fire during construction work in Muda”, in the União de Freguesias de Grândola and Santa Margarida da Serra.

The company said it was “suspicious” that the fire was of “criminal origin.”

“The Judicial Police and GNR were on the scene and are currently investigating the cause,” and the company is “providing full cooperation with the police authorities,” he explained.

According to a source in the Alentejo Coastal Subregional Command, the fire alarm was transmitted to firefighters at 4:14 a.m., and at 7:08 a.m. the fire was already under control.

The Muda Reserve tourist complex, which is being built by Vanguard Properties, involves an investment of about 200 million euros.

The project involves the construction of 175 houses of various types with office, retail and sports premises, a company source told Lusa.

The first stone of this investment was laid in 2017 at a ceremony presided over by the mayor of Grandola, António Figueira Mendes.

A Vanguard Properties source contacted by Lusa today said the construction phase of the houses began in 2023 and is currently ongoing.