Latest news Four people already killed in forest fires in Portugal

Four people have already died in the forest fires that have been raging in Portugal since Sunday. The number of injured was 40 in a recent assessment by the Civil Defense (ANEPC), as reported by the Lusa news agency.

More than 5,000 firefighters, members of the civil defense and soldiers fought 23 major fires, mainly in the north and center of the popular vacation destination. A total of 21 fire-fighting aircraft and helicopters were also deployed.

EU partners send rapid assistance

The fire-fighting work was supported by eight fire-fighting aircraft sent by the EU partners on Monday following a call for help from Lisbon. There are two planes each from Spain, Italy, France and Greece. The forest fire alert, which was originally only issued until Tuesday evening, has now been extended until Thursday evening by the responsible authorities. "We're going to have a tough time over the next few days. We have to prepare for it", warned Prime Minister Luís Montenegro.

Portugal was spared major forest fires this year. However, according to official figures, more than 10,000 hectares of nature have now been affected in less than 48 hours.

The Aveiro district, not far from Porto, is the worst affected

While there were fires in many places, the district of Aveiro, a good 50 kilometers south of Porto, was the worst affected. Three of the four fatalities were recorded there: a firefighter and a civilian who died of a heart attack while fighting the flames, as well as an employee of a forestry company who was surprised by the fire in the forest. The body of an 83-year-old woman was recovered in the neighboring district of Viseu.

In Albergaria-a-Velha, Sever do Vouga and other municipalities in the Aveiro region, around four dozen buildings and countless vehicles were engulfed by the fire, according to official figures. More than 100 people were brought to safety, it said. Four people were arrested on suspicion of arson. It is not yet known whether the arrests are connected to the current major fires.

Several highways and some country roads were still partially closed on Tuesday. Train and long-distance bus services were severely disrupted. The smoke darkened the sky over the regional capital Aveiro and other municipalities. Citizens were urged to stay at home and use as little water as possible.

SDA