RAGING forest fires in central Portugal have killed at least 62 people, many of them trapped in their cars as flames swept over a stretch of road.
Nearly 60 other people have been injured, including four firefighters, in an incident Prime Minister Antonio Costa has described as “the biggest tragedy of human life that we have known in years”.
The fatalities occurred in the Pedrógão Grande area, about 95 miles north-east of the capital Lisbon, where about 700 firefighters have been trying to put out the fires since Saturday.
Interior ministry official Jorge Gomes said at least 16 people were killed when their vehicles were engulfed by flames on a road between the towns of Figueiro dos Vinhos and Castanheira de Pera, and three others died from smoke inhalation in Figueiro dos Vinhos.
No information has yet been given on how the others were killed.
A huge wall of thick smoke and bright red flames towered over the top of trees near houses in the wooded region.
Local television showed terrifying images of several people on a road trying to escape the intense smoke that had reduced visibility to a few metres.
Costa said firefighting crews are having difficulties in approaching the area because the flames are “very intense”.
He added that Portuguese authorities are working on identifying the victims, and Spanish rescuers are assisting in efforts to control the blazes.
He said investigations are ongoing to determine the cause of the fire, but authorities believe the fact that temperatures have rocketed in recent days may have played a part.
Valdemar Alves, mayor of Pedrógão Grande, said: “This is a region that has had fires because of its forests, but we cannot remember a tragedy of these proportions.
“I am completely stunned by the number of deaths.”
The European Union has activated its civil protection efforts to help efforts.
EU Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management Christos Stylianides said that the “EU is fully ready to help”.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here