About 2 000 firefighters, soldiers and volunteers were on Tuesday battling nearly 30 wildfires around Portugal, where most of the blazes remained out of control, firefighters said.
Winds and rising temperatures revived flames in the mountainous Arrabida region south of Lisbon, where beaches were evacuated in Portinho da Arrabida.
Firefighters pledged to protect people and property from the flames, which approached areas of human habitation.
Firefighters were felling trees to access some areas in the Arrabida, where flames also threatened a nature park, home to wild cats and unique vegetation.
A major blaze also continued raging in the Monchique mountains down south, where flames have devoured about 3 000ha of forest.
Two other fires were also active in the Monchique area belonging to the Algarve region, where at least half a dozen homes have burned down and dozens of people evacuated.
Hundreds of tourists have also been brought to safety from beaches and camping areas near Setubal.
Portugal has mobilised about 500 soldiers to help 1 500 firefighters and volunteers to combat the fires, which have injured several people.
Interior Minister Daniel Sanches said Portugal is expecting more water bomber planes to arrive from Spain, France, Italy and Greece. News reports said several planes have already flown in from the two latter countries.
Portugal asked for help through the European Commission despite saying earlier that it has sufficient means to fight wildfires, the daily Publico said.
The government has hired 38 more extinguishing planes or helicopters for this summer, but not all of them have arrived, according to the daily.
Environmentalists and local officials have accused the government of not having improved its performance since last summer, when record wildfires destroyed about 400 000ha of vegetation and killed 18 people.
Authorities attribute the fires to arson, drought and temperatures of up to 44 degrees Celsius. — Sapa-DPA