Melodi
Disaster Cat
At least 39 people killed in massive fire in Portugal
Firefighters work to put out a forest fire near Bouca, in central Portugal
Firefighters work to put out a forest fire near Bouca, in central Portugal
June 18 2017 7:17 AM
39 people have been killed in forest fires in central Portugal, many of them trapped in their cars as flames swept over a road.
The Interior Ministry, confirmed at least 39 people had been killed in blazes in the Pedrogao Grande area, about 93 miles north east of Lisbon.
Around 600 firefighters were trying to put out the blazes, which started on Saturday.
Interior Ministry official Jorge Gomes said at least 16 people died in their cars on a road between the towns of Figueiro dos Vinhos and Castanheira de Pera and three died from smoke inhalation in Figueiro dos Vinhos.
Smoke rises from a forest fire, seen from the village of Mourisco in central Portugal
Public broadcaster RTP said there were about 20 injured, including six firefighters. Fourteen of the injured were in a serious condition.
Prime Minister Antonio Costa called it a "tragedy of a big dimension".
He said authorities were working on identifying the victims and Spanish rescuers would help efforts to put out the fires.
Televised images showed a huge wall of flames leaping over the top of trees in the wooded region.
Smoke rises from a forest fire, seen from the village of Mourisco in central Portugal,
Portugal has suffered high temperatures that have reached 40C (104F) in recent days.
It is prone to forest fires in the dry summer months.
Online Editors
http://www.independent.ie/world-new...led-in-massive-fire-in-portugal-35838028.html
Firefighters work to put out a forest fire near Bouca, in central Portugal
Firefighters work to put out a forest fire near Bouca, in central Portugal
June 18 2017 7:17 AM
39 people have been killed in forest fires in central Portugal, many of them trapped in their cars as flames swept over a road.
The Interior Ministry, confirmed at least 39 people had been killed in blazes in the Pedrogao Grande area, about 93 miles north east of Lisbon.
Around 600 firefighters were trying to put out the blazes, which started on Saturday.
Interior Ministry official Jorge Gomes said at least 16 people died in their cars on a road between the towns of Figueiro dos Vinhos and Castanheira de Pera and three died from smoke inhalation in Figueiro dos Vinhos.
Smoke rises from a forest fire, seen from the village of Mourisco in central Portugal
Public broadcaster RTP said there were about 20 injured, including six firefighters. Fourteen of the injured were in a serious condition.
Prime Minister Antonio Costa called it a "tragedy of a big dimension".
He said authorities were working on identifying the victims and Spanish rescuers would help efforts to put out the fires.
Televised images showed a huge wall of flames leaping over the top of trees in the wooded region.
Smoke rises from a forest fire, seen from the village of Mourisco in central Portugal,
Portugal has suffered high temperatures that have reached 40C (104F) in recent days.
It is prone to forest fires in the dry summer months.
Online Editors
http://www.independent.ie/world-new...led-in-massive-fire-in-portugal-35838028.html