Trapped in the forest of death...
62 die in Portugal’s blazing hell
A FOUR-year-old boy was among 62 people who have died in horrific forest fires raging in Portugal.
Little Rodrigo Rosario’s body was alongside a car in which his uncle Sidel Belchior had burned to death.
Interior minister Jorge Gomes revealed 30 of the victims were found in cars, with another 17 next to the vehicles, on a road leading to a motorway. A further 11 people died in a nearby village.
Rodrigo’s gran broke down in tears as she said: “My grandson has died. They’ve just told me they found a four-year-old boy next to the vehicle his uncle died in.”
The youngster’s parents were on their honeymoon in Cape Verde. His mum, Ana Cardita Rosario, had sent out social media appeals for info about the boy.
Rodrigo, who lived in Lisbon, was staying with his 37-year-old uncle.
Three other children, all under the age of six, are also believed to be dead, with one being a three-year-old girl.
Maria de Fatima Nunes, who suffered burn injuries, said: “It was real hell. I thought it was the end of the world. I thought I was going to die.
“Burning pine trees were crashing down on top of cars. It was horrible.”
The blazes erupted at Pedrogao Grande in the centre of the country.
It is not known what caused the fire, although Prime Minister Antonio Costa said thunderstorms were one possibility.
He called it “the greatest tragedy we have seen in recent years”.
Valdemar Alves, the mayor of Pedrogao Grande, said: “I am completely stunned by the number of deaths.”
Several of the 600 firefighters battling the inferno are among the 50-plus people injured in the fire 30 miles south-east of Coimbra, which has affected 20 villages.
Spain sent two water-bombing planes but the flames were last night no closer to being put out, said reports.
The European Union is co-ordinating a firefighting and relief effort.
Portugal has been experiencing a heatwave, with temperatures of 40C.