Latest news Glimmer of hope for forest fires in Portugal

A change in the weather has come to the aid of firefighters in the forest and bush fires in Portugal.

According to the state TV station RTP, decreasing winds and higher humidity could make it possible to contain the fires.

Announced rain could bring further relief in the fight against the fires. However, the rain could also trigger mudslides on scorched earth, reported the state news agency Lusa.

Some of the at times more than 100 fires, especially in the center and north of the country, have been extinguished or brought under control, such as in the small town of Nelas in central Portugal, Lusa reported. The 140,000 hectares (1,400 square kilometers) burned so far this year is the largest in the past seven years.

Ten people have died so far, either fighting the flames or elderly people suffering heart attacks as a result of fear and excitement, Lusa added. Almost 4,000 firefighters were deployed across the country, supported by firefighting aircraft and helicopters.

Due to the forest fires, Portugal's carbon emissions were the highest in a September for 22 years at an estimated 1.9 million tons, according to the EU's Copernicus Atmospheric Monitoring Service (CAMS). Smoke emissions are also expected to reach parts of Spain and France by the weekend.

SDA