3 dead as Portugal suffers over 400 forest fires

Three people were killed and over 20 others injured when wildfires hit central and northern Portugal.

Two of the victims died in the town of Penacova, Coimbra district, while the third died in Serta in the Castelo Branco district, according to authorities, Efe news reported.

Both towns are located in the centre of Portugal, one of the areas most affected, along with the north, which was hit with a record of 443 fires on Sunday.

At present, 108 fires, some 30 of them considered of high importance, are still active.

Some 5,300 firefighters supported by 1,600 ground fire-fighting vehicles and more than 200 military personnel are currently battling the flames, according to the Civil Protection Authority.

The Portuguese authorities have requested assistance from the European Union (EU) and Morocco to support their fire extinction efforts.

All districts in the country are on red alert for fire risk, which will stay enforced until at least 20.00h local time (19:00 GMT) Monday.

High temperatures and a scarcity of rainfall in recent weeks had led the authorities to prolong the critical period of forest fires until 31 October.

The deadliest fire in Portugal this year started on June 17 in the district of Pedrogao Grande, where 64 people were killed and over 250 others injured.

--IANS

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