Survivors escape deadly fires by leaping into water tanks

Authorities face mounting criticism after forest wildfires kill 62 people

Survivors have emerged with stories of leaping into water tanks and other dramatic escapes from the deadly forest fires scorching central Portugal.

Authorities have come under mounting criticism for not doing more to prevent the country’s deadliest natural disaster in decades.

More than 2,700 firefighters are still battling to contain several major wildfires in the area north-east of Lisbon, where one blaze that began on Saturday killed 62 people, many of them as they tried to flee the flames in their cars.

Water-dropping planes from Spain, France and Italy arrived as part of a European Union co-operation programme but they were grounded in some places because thick smoke limited visibility, officials said.

That left firefighters – backed by fire engines and bulldozers – to do the heavy work on the ground in temperatures that approached 40C (104F).

Firefighters brought some of the blazes under control, but other wildfires still raced through inaccessible parts of the area’s steep hills, the Civil Protection Agency said.

Portugal is observing three days of national mourning after the deaths on Saturday around the town of Pedrogao Grande, 90 miles north of Lisbon.

Scorching weather, as well as strong winds and woods that are bone dry after weeks with little rain, fuelled the blazes.

Pictures: Getty Images. A burned car on the side of the road near Castanheira de Pera, and a house ruined by the fires near Pampilhosa da Serra, in the Coimbra district.