Portugal has requested additional support from the European Union, Spain, and Morocco to provide firefighting aircraft, in anticipation of worsening wildfires amid the heatwave affecting the country.

Portuguese Prime Minister Luís Montenegro explained that the request is part of preparations to face exceptional conditions expected in the coming days, stressing that the step does not reflect a lack of resources but aims to enhance readiness through the European Union's civil protection mechanism and bilateral agreements with Spain and Morocco.

Parts of Portugal are under red weather warnings as temperatures exceed 40 degrees Celsius in some areas, while authorities have imposed restrictions on entering forest areas and banned the use of machinery there to reduce the risk of fires.

Civil defense authorities announced the deployment of more than 2,800 firefighters, supported by about 864 vehicles and 32 aircraft, to combat six wildfires that broke out in various areas, the largest of which was in the Viseu region in central Portugal.

These measures come as several countries in the Mediterranean basin and areas along the Atlantic coast experience an unprecedented heatwave that has caused widespread fires.