Wildfire ravages central Portugal
A wildfire that erupted over the weekend has ripped through central Portugal killing over 60 people and injured dozens more. According to the Portuguese Interior Minister Constanca Urbano de Sousa, eight firefighters are among the injured and four of those are in critical condition.
- Some firefighters prepare themselves to be overflied by a Canadair firefighting plane droping its water load on a wildfire in Vale da Ponte, Pedrograo Grande, on June 20, 2017. The huge forest fire that erupted on June 17, 2017 in central Portugal killed at least 64 people and injured 135 more, with many trapped in their cars by the flames. (Miguel Riopa/AFP/Getty Images)
- A firefighter battles a fire after a wildfire took dozens of lives on June 20, 2017 near Picha, in Leiria district, Portugal. On Saturday night, a forest fire became uncontrollable in the Leiria district, killing at least 62 people and leaving many injured. Some of the victims died inside their cars as they tried to flee the area. (Photo by Pablo Blazquez Dominguez/Getty Images)
- Firefighters battle a fire after a wildfire took dozens of lives on June 20, 2017 in Mega Fundeira village, near Picha, in Leiria district, Portugal. On Saturday night, a forest fire became uncontrollable in the Leiria district, killing at least 62 people and leaving many injured. Some of the victims died inside their cars as they tried to flee the area. (Photo by Pablo Blazquez Dominguez/Getty Images)
- Smokes comes up behind bushes after firefighters extinguished a fire the approaching Mega Fundeira village after a wildfire took dozens of lives on June 20, 2017 near Picha, in Leiria district, Portugal. On Saturday night, a forest fire became uncontrollable in the Leiria district, killing at least 62 people and leaving many injured. Some of the victims died inside their cars as they tried to flee the area. (Photo by Pablo Blazquez Dominguez/Getty Images)
- Flames burn a tree during a wildfire in Vale da Ponte, Pedrograo Grande, on June 20, 2017. The huge forest fire that erupted on June 17, 2017 in central Portugal killed at least 64 people and injured 135 more, with many trapped in their cars by the flames. / (AFP Photo/Miguel Riopa)
- A picture taken on June 20, 2017 shows a burnt area of Vale do Cambra, some 30 km to Pedrograo Grande, after being affected by a forest wildfire. The huge forest fire that erupted on June 17, 2017 in central Portugal killed at least 64 people and injured 135 more, with many trapped in their cars by the flames. / (AFP Photo/Miguel Riopa)
- hter pulls a hose as they combat a wildfire in Vale da Ponte, Pedrograo Grande, on June 20, 2017. The huge forest fire that erupted on June 17, 2017 in central Portugal killed at least 64 people and injured 135 more, with many trapped in their cars by the flames. / (AFP Photo/Miguel Riopa)
- A convoy of ambulances drive during the evacuation of Picha, near Pedrogao Grande on June 20, 2017. The huge forest fire that erupted on June 17, 2017 in central Portugal killed at least 64 people and injured 135 more, with many trapped in their cars by the flames. / (AFP Photo/Francisco Leong)
- A firefighter combats a wildfire in Capelo, Gois, on June 20, 2017. The huge forest fire that erupted on June 17, 2017 in central Portugal killed at least 64 people and injured 135 more, with many trapped in their cars by the flames. / (AFP Photo/Patricia Melo moreirapatricia de melo moreira)
- A road meanders among burnt forest areas affected by a wildfire in Vale do Cambra, some 30 km to Pedrograo Grande, on June 20, 2017. The huge forest fire that erupted on June 17, 2017 in central Portugal killed at least 64 people and injured 135 more, with many trapped in their cars by the flames. / (AFP Photo/Miguel Riopa)
- A firefighting plane drops a water load over a wildfire in Ouzenda, near Pedrogao Grande on June 20, 2017. The huge forest fire that erupted on June 17, 2017 in central Portugal killed at least 64 people and injured 135 more, with many trapped in their cars by the flames. / (AFP Photo/Francisco Leong)
- A picture taken on June 18, 2017 shows burnt cars on a road after a wildfire in Figueiro dos Vinhos. A wildfire in central Portugal killed at least 57 people and injured 59 others, most of them burning to death in their cars, the government said on June 18, 2017. Several hundred firefighters and 160 vehicles were dispatched late on June 17 to tackle the blaze, which broke out in the afternoon in the municipality of Pedrogao Grande before spreading fast across several fronts. / (AFP Photo/Patricia Melo moreirapatricia de melo moreira)
- A column of smoke billows in the sky after a wildfire surrounding their houses, in Figueiro dos Vinhos on June 18, 2017. Portugal declared three days of national mourning from June 18, 2017 after the most deadly forest fire in its recent history, raging through the centre of the country. The fire, which broke out June 17, 2017 in the Pedrogao Grande district, had killed at least 62 people and injured more than 50, according to the latest official update by Sunday afternoon. / (AFP Photo/Patricia Melo moreirapatricia de melo moreira)
- A picture taken on June 18, 2017 shows a forest in flames during a wildfire near the village of Mega Fundeira. Portugal declared three days of national mourning from June 18, 2017 after the most deadly forest fire in its recent history, raging through the centre of the country. The fire, which broke out June 17, 2017 in the Pedrogao Grande district, had killed at least 62 people and injured more than 50, according to the latest official update by Sunday afternoon. / (AFP Photo/Miguel Riopa)
- A man stands on the roadside and watches a wildfire at Anciao, Leiria, central Portugal, on June 18, 2017. A wildfire in central Portugal killed at least 25 people and injured 16 others, most of them burning to death in their cars, the government said on June 18, 2017. Several hundred firefighters and 160 vehicles were dispatched late on June 17 to tackle the blaze, which broke out in the afternoon in the municipality of Pedrogao Grande before spreading fast across several fronts. / (AFP Photo/Patricia Melo moreirapatricia de melo moreira)
- Some people watch the columns of smoke rising from a wildfire in Gois, Coimbra district, on June 20, 2017. The huge forest fire that erupted on June 17, 2017 in central Portugal killed at least 64 people and injured 135 more, with many trapped in their cars by the flames. / (AFP Photo/Patricia Melo moreirapatricia de melo moreira)
- A firefighter plane drops water on a wildfire at Cernache de Bonjardim in Serta on June 20, 2017. The huge forest fire that erupted on June 17, 2017 in central Portugal killed at least 64 people and injured 135 more, with many trapped in their cars by the flames. / (AFP Photo/Patricia Melo moreirapatricia de melo moreira)
- A firefighter plane drops water as Spanish military firefighters from the Emergency Military Unit (UME) work on the ground in Cernache de Bomjardim in Serta on June 20, 2017. The huge forest fire that erupted on June 17, 2017 in central Portugal killed at least 64 people and injured 135 more, with many trapped in their cars by the flames. / (AFP Photo/Patricia Melo moreirapatricia de melo moreira)
- Some locals watch a Canadair plane overflying smoke columns taht raise as wildfires burn close to Pedrogao Pequeno, on June 20, 2017. The huge forest fire that erupted on June 17, 2017 in central Portugal killed at least 64 people and injured 135 more, with many trapped in their cars by the flames. / (AFP Photo/Miguel Riopa)
- Forest rangers watch the columns of smoke rising from a wildfire in Gois, Coimbra district, on June 20, 2017. The huge forest fire that erupted on June 17, 2017 in central Portugal killed at least 64 people and injured 135 more, with many trapped in their cars by the flames. / (AFP Photo/Patricia Melo moreirapatricia de melo moreira)
- Firefighters use a hose to combat a wildfire in Vale da Ponte, Pedrograo Grande, on June 20, 2017. The huge forest fire that erupted on June 17, 2017 in central Portugal killed at least 64 people and injured 135 more, with many trapped in their cars by the flames. / (AFP Photo/Miguel Riopa)
- A firefighter helicopter overflies a wildfire in Carvalho, next to Pampilhosa da Serra, on June 19, 2017. More than 1,000 firefighters are still trying to control the huge forest fire that erupted on June 17, 2017 in central Portugal killing at least 62 people and injuring 62 more, many trapped in their cars by the flames, causing a great deal of emotion in the country. / (AFP Photo/Miguel Riopa)
- A picture taken on June 18, 2017 shows flames and smoke during a wildfire near the village of Mega Fundeira. Portugal declared three days of national mourning from June 18, 2017 after the most deadly forest fire in its recent history, raging through the centre of the country. The fire, which broke out June 17, 2017 in the Pedrogao Grande district, had killed at least 62 people and injured more than 50, according to the latest official update by Sunday afternoon. / (AFP Photo/Miguel Riopa)
- A wildfire is reflected in a stream at Penela, Coimbra, central Portugal, on June 18, 2017. A wildfire in central Portugal killed at least 25 people and injured 16 others, most of them burning to death in their cars, the government said on June 18, 2017. Several hundred firefighters and 160 vehicles were dispatched late on June 17 to tackle the blaze, which broke out in the afternoon in the municipality of Pedrogao Grande before spreading fast across several fronts. / (AFP Photo/Patricia Melo moreirapatricia de melo moreira)
- A helicopter drops water over a wildfire in Carvalho, next to Pampilhosa da Serra, on June 19, 2017. More than 1,000 firefighters are still trying to control the huge forest fire that erupted on June 17, 2017 in central Portugal killing at least 62 people and injuring 62 more, many trapped in their cars by the flames, causing a great deal of emotion in the country. / (AFP Photo/Miguel Riopa)
- A helicopter overfly a wildfire in Carvalho, next to Pampilhosa da Serra, on June 19, 2017. More than 1,000 firefighters are still trying to control the huge forest fire that erupted on June 17, 2017 in central Portugal killing at least 62 people and injuring 62 more, many trapped in their cars by the flames, causing a great deal of emotion in the country. / (AFP Photo/Miguel Riopa)