Mondim de Basto Volunteer Firefighters rescue four people near PR2 – Fisgas de Ermelo

Search and rescue operation near PR2 – Fisgas de Ermelo

A search and rescue operation by Mondim de Basto Volunteer Firefighters rescued four people - three children and one adult - late on Friday afternoon after they became lost near the PR2 – Fisgas de Ermelo walking route.

The alert was raised at 17:40 through the Ave Sub-Regional Emergency and Civil Protection Command. Ten firefighters and three vehicles from Mondim de Basto Volunteer Firefighters were deployed, with support also provided by two officers from the National Republican Guard territorial station.

Drone support in the Fisgas de Ermelo area

A drone operated by the brigade’s Unmanned Aircraft Unit proved crucial to the successful outcome. Given the challenging terrain around Fisgas de Ermelo, aerial reconnaissance enabled the four people to be found quickly, substantially cutting the time required by teams searching on foot.

The group was located at approximately 18:30, around 50 minutes after resources were mobilised. Once found, they were escorted by rescue crews to a safe, accessible location. Although shaken by the incident, all four were in good health and none required transport to hospital.