Firefighters still tackling forest blaze in Portugal

More than 2,000 firefighters yesterday continued to battle major wildfires in the central region of Portugal where one blaze killed 62 people over the weekend.

Authorities have come under mounting criticism for not doing more to prevent the tragedy.

Reinforcements, including more water-dropping planes from Spain, France and Italy, were due to arrive as part of a European Union cooperation program, officials said.

Civil Protection Agency commander Elisio Oliveira said cooler night-time temperatures helped firefighters bring some blazes under control.

However, some of the wildfires are still racing through inaccessible parts of hill ranges about 90 miles northeast of Lisbon.

PICTURE: PAULO DUARTE/AP 0 A resident poses for a photo in the wake of the forest fires in Casal de Alge, outside the village of Figueiro dos Vinhos in central Portugal