Thousands of firefighters battle raging wildfires in Portugal, with two people dead and entire villages evacuated - as Europe sends in planes to waterbomb infernos
At least two people are dead and entire villages have been evacuated as thousands of firefighters battle raging wildfires in Portugal.
At least two people are dead and entire villages have been evacuated as thousands of firefighters battle raging wildfires in Portugal.
More than 1,100 firefighters were battling fires in the northwestern Aveiro district where one forest blaze reached the outskirts of the town of Albergaria-a-Velha.
The European Union has been asked to send more water-bombing aircraft to douse the infernos.
Authorities said they had deployed 12 water-bombing aircraft in that district and were fighting at least 20 fires across the country.
Also, police have shut a stretch of the main highway between Lisbon and Porto due to thick smoke.
A silhouette of a firefighter is pictured during a wildfire at Ribeira de Fraguas, Albergaria-a-Velha in Aveiro
Firefighters try to extinguish a wildfire in Canas de Senhorim, Portugal, September 16
Firefighters fight a forest fire in Zimao, Vila Pouca de Aguiar as thousands of emergency workers descend on the scene
People walk amid smoke from a wildfire in Penalva do Castelo. A major motorway was shut due to smoke
A firefighter speaks on his wlakie-talkie as a wildfire approaches the houses at Ribeira de Fraguas
People watch a wildfire in Canas de Senhorim. Sadly, at least two people are dead so far
Firefighters run to help villagers during a wildfire at Ribeira de Fraguas
A villager tries to extinguish a wildfire with a hose at Ribeira de Fraguas
Firefighters try to extinguish a wildfire in Canas de Senhorim. The government has asked for more aircraft
A Kamov 32A11BC firefighting helicopter drops water over the wildfire in Ancede
424 SEI*221951585 Firefighters combat a wildfire in Busturenga. Two people were in hospital with serious injuries, according to the civil protection service
Two people have been confirmed dead, so far, after the remains of a man who apparently worked for a forestry company were discovered and in the same area, another person died of a heart attack as the fire approached.
Two people were in hospital with serious injuries, according to the civil protection service.
Albergaria-a-Velha Mayor Antonio Loureiro told reporters the fire had burned down four houses and was threatening 20 more as it raged in the industrial and residential perimeter of the town of around 25,000 people.
The government requested eight more water-bombing aircraft from the European Commission under the EU civil protection mechanism known as RescEU.
Two arrived from Spain, and two were expected from France while Greece said it would send two Canadair CL-415 planes.
The situation is likely get worse amid unusually dry conditions and wind gusts of up to 43 mph, national emergency and civil protection commander Andre Fernandes said.
Mr Fernandes also planned to maintain the current special red alert status across mainland Portugal.
Temperatures topped 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit) across the country over the weekend and Monday, and were expected to stay high into Tuesday.
Portugal and neighbouring Spain have recorded fewer fires than usual after a rainy start to the year.
But both remain vulnerable to the increasingly hot and dry conditions that scientists have blamed on global warming.
