Firefighters from Covilha rescued four motorcyclists in Serra da Estrela

Four motorcyclists were rescued in Serra da Estrela by Covilhã volunteer firefighters late Thursday after accumulated snow prevented them from traveling on a road closed to traffic.

The four men, who were surprised by the very adverse weather conditions that prevented the dirt bikes from continuing, left them behind, continued on foot until they were unable to walk, and sent the location coordinates to the firefighters they asked. for help.

According to the head of the Covilhã fire department, Luis Marques, the four people were heading from Unhais da Serra towards Nave de Santo António along the municipal road 509, known as the canal road, which “was not suitable for traffic and therefore had a gate. closed and was closed.”

“When they arrived at the Padre Alfredo Dam, the motorcycles were no longer running. They left them and continued on foot, called the fire department, sent us the coordinates, we asked the Snow Clearing Center to open the gates, and we opened the way for him with snow plows until he reached them,” the Covilha fire chief said in a statement to Lusa.

The relief operation, supported by Infraestruturas de Portugal and the GNR’s Emergency Protection and Assistance Unit, involved three vehicles and seven firefighters after the alarm was sounded at around 7:30 p.m., Luis Marques said.

The motorcyclists were on their way to a hotel in Penhas da Sauda and were in a state of “extreme fatigue,” according to Covilhã’s fire chief.

In a conversation with Lusa this Friday, one of the members of the group, who is in Covilha and continues to keep their motorcycles on the EM 509 track under the guard of the GNR, explained that the four, a Portuguese from Santarem, a Swiss, a Swede and an Australian, were on a five-day tour of the region, and traveling that route “was a last-minute decision” when it got dark.

The motorcyclist, who chose not to reveal his name, explained that he knew “minimal terrain”, that EM 509 “is the normal route” to follow, and that although the road was closed they had made a “bad decision” to move ahead. as a shortcut and because they have been doing this for “many years” and have observed that sometimes the alerts are “unnatural.”

After the incident, the motorcyclist urged to “observe warnings, especially local ones.”

Covilha fire chief Luis Marques warned that Serra da Estrela “could experience a sudden change in weather conditions” that would prevent people “from being able to travel” and stressed that visitors “should avoid getting into dangerous situations.” “

“They must ensure that when approaching the mountains they carry snow chains, refuel their vehicles and wear warm clothing. They must exercise utmost caution and comply with government directions, both in relation to road closures and road closures. placed in places where it is prohibited,” emphasized the person in charge of the Covilha fire station in the Castelo Branco region.