International News

PENELA, Portugal, June 18, (APP/AFP) – Raging forest
fires in central Portugal have killed at least 43 people, most
of whom burnt to death in their cars, and injured scores of
others, the government said Sunday.
Nearly 600 firefighters and 160 vehicles were dispatched
late Saturday to tackle the blaze, which broke out in the afternoon
in the municipality of Pedrogao Grande, about 50 kilometres (30 miles)
from Coimbra, before spreading fast across several fronts.
“Unfortunately this seems to be the greatest tragedy we have
seen in recent years in terms of forest fires,” a visibly moved
Prime Minister Antonio Costa said.
“The number of fatalities could still rise,” he said at the
Civil Protection headquarters near Lisbon.
“The priority now is to save those people who could still
be in danger.”
The European Union said it would provide firefighting
planes following a request from Lisbon.
“France has offered three planes through the EU Civil
Protection Mechanism and they will be quickly sent to assist
the local emergency efforts,” EU Commissioner for Humanitarian
Aid and Crisis Management Christos Stylianides said.
Portugal was sweltering under a severe heatwave Saturday,
with temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees
Fahrenheit) in several regions.
Some 60 forest fires broke out across the country during
the night, with around 1,700 firefighters battling to put
them out.
Secretary of State for the Interior Jorge Gomes said 43
people burned to death, mostly trapped in their cars engulfed
by flames in the Leiria region. At least 59 were injured.
The flames spread “with great violence”, moving out on
four fronts, Gomes said. “It is difficult to say if they were
fleeing the flames or were taken by surprise.”