“The fire that broke out at 11:30pm on Tuesday has spread to Almancil, in the municipality of Loulé, close to Quinta do Lago. We have two active fronts, one to the north/northwest, which is giving way to the means, and another on the left flank, evolving, but with projections to inaccessible places,” Alexandre Vicente, from the District Relief Operations Command (CDOS) told Lusa.

The same CDOS source indicated that more information about the fire will be given at a press conference to be held at the University of Algarve.

The fire broke out at 23:30 on Tuesday near the University of the Algarve and the premises where the Faro International Motorcycle Gathering was supposed to take place, which has since moved to an “urbanised space”.

At 10:30, the fire had mobilised 280 operatives, with the support of 101 vehicles and three air assets.