More than 1 400 firefighters and soldiers were on Tuesday combating eight wildfires in northern and central Portugal, news reports said.
The biggest fire was reported in the Pampilhosa da Serra in Coimbra district, where nearly 400 firefighters were trying to contain a blaze raging since Saturday. Residents were reportedly evacuated from several villages.
An elderly woman was killed in a wildfire near Serta on Monday, bringing this year’s death toll to 12 people, including eight firefighters.
The Meteorological Institute said a high risk of wildfires persists in 12 of the country’s 18 districts. Weather forecasts announced maximum temperatures of 34 degrees Celsius for Tuesday.
The authorities advised against lighting fires and carelessness when picnicking or using agricultural machinery.
Interior Minister Antonio Costa estimated that wildfires have devastated 118 000ha of forest so far this year, as much as during all of last year.
In 2003, Portugal’s worst wildfires on record destroyed 425 000ha of forest and bush. — Sapa-DPA