62 killed in Portugal fires
Most victims burnt to death in their cars after being trapped in inferno
RAGING forest fires in Portugal have killed at least 62 people, most of whom burnt to death in their cars, the government said yesterday, in one of the worst such disasters in recent history.
The fire broke out on Saturday in Pedrogao Grande municipality in central Portugal, before spreading fast across several fronts.
Yesterday afternoon, nearly 900 firefighters and 300 vehicles were battling the blaze as scenes of devastation could be seen around the town.
“This seems to be the greatest tragedy we have seen in recent years in terms of forest fires,” said a visibly moved Prime Minister Antonio Costa, who declared three days of mourning starting yesterday.
The flowing expanse of hills between Pedrogao Grande, Figueiro do Vinhos to the west, and Castanheira de Pera to the north — which 24 hours before had glowed bright green with eucalyptus plants and pine trees — were completely razed.
A thick layer of white smoke hovered over either side of a national motorway for a distance of about 20km as blackened trees leaned over charred soil.
A burnt-out car sat outside partly destroyed and abandoned houses, while a few metres away, police in face masks surrounded the corpse of a man hidden under a white sheet.
Secretary of State for the Interior Jorge Gomes said 62 people burned to death, mostly trapped in their cars engulfed by flames in the Leiria region.
“It is difficult to say if they were fleeing the flames or were taken by surprise,” he said.
More than 50 people were injured, five critically, including one child and four firefighters.
“The number of fatalities could still rise. The priority now is to save those people who could still be in danger,” said Costa.
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 sent to assist emergency efforts,” EU Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management Christos Stylianides said.
Portugal was sweltering under a severe heatwave over the weekend, with temperatures topping 40°C in several regions.
About 60 forest fires broke out across the country during the night, with around 1,700 firefighters battling to put them out.
“The fire is raging on four fronts,” Gomes said, with two spreading “violently”.
A number of villages were affected by the main fire and homes were evacuated. Spain dispatched two water-bombing planes yesterday to aid the Portuguese fire service.
Dozens of people who fled their homes were taken in by residents of nearby Ansiao municipality.
“There are people who arrived saying they didn’t want to die in their homes, which were surrounded by flames,” Ansiao resident Ricardo Tristao said.
President Marcelo Rebelo went to the Leiria region to meet families of the victims, saying he was “sharing their pain in the name of all the Portuguese people”.
Pope Francis began his Angelus prayer by invoking the tragedy.
“I express my closeness to the beloved people of Portugal following the devastating fire,” Francis said.
“Let’s pray in silence.” AFP