SEVEN people have lost their lives in the devastating Portugal wildfires.
Hundreds have been forced to leave their homes which will leave you wondering which areas have been impacted by the blazes.
You will need to get in touch with your travel advisor to see if they will find alternative accommodation if you were due to visit the country.
It’s also vital to make sure your travel insurance is valid.
Where are the Portugal wildfires?
Several areas across Portugal have been impacted by the wildfires.
There are more than 100 active wildfires around the country which have been burning for days.
It has been reported by Portuguese authorities that there is a high risk of the fires breaking out over the central and northern regions.
70 residents were forced to leave the area between Porto and Aveiro in the north.
Land and homes have been ravaged by the fires in Braga and motorways have been closed between the Lisbon and Porto.
Is it safe to travel to Portugal or should I cancel my holiday?
Temperatures have exceeded 30C in Portugal and seven people have died from the fires so far.
The Foreign Office is not advising against travel to Portugal as some areas such as the Algarve and Madeira have not been impacted.
However, you should check if the specific area you were due to travel to has been affected by the fires.
You need to speak to your travel operator as the place you were meant to go to may not be accessible anymore.
However, if you choose to cancel your trip, you may not be eligible for a refund.
This is because the UK Foreign Office does not tend to advise against travel due to fire risk, so operators are unlikely to cancel holidays unless the place you’re staying is directly affected.
You need to make sure your travel insurance policy covers you if the place you were travelling to is affected by wildfires.
Some policies may have cover for natural disasters which include hurricanes, floods, wildfires and earthquakes.
If you booked your trip as a package holiday, the provider will most likely offer you an alternative accommodation.
You may also be able to move your travel dates but if you booked everything separately yourself, the airline may still expect you to travel.
However, you still may be able to postpone your accommodation or travel and find somewhere alternative to stay in a safe area.
