Seven people, including three firefighters, have died, and over 50 have been injured as wildfires rage across Portugal affecting central and northern regions, with 5,300 firefighters deployed to combat the flames.
Portugal’s civil protection service reported 54 wildfires nationwide, with most concentrated in the northern part of the country, the Guardian said.
Assistance from France, Greece, Italy, and Spain has arrived, including eight water-bombing planes.
More than 1,000 firefighters worked through Monday night to control wildfires near Nelas and Aveiro, south of Porto.
Residents were seen pouring buckets of water to protect their homes from rapidly advancing flames.
In Aveiro, over 10,000 hectares of forest have been destroyed within two days, as wildfires continue to spread.
The fires have also closed two major railway lines and parts of the main road between Lisbon and Porto.
Portugal’s civil protection commander, Andre Fernandes, confirmed three firefighters were killed after their vehicle was trapped in flames.
The firefighters were two women and one man, all responding to fires near Nelas.
Additional casualties include a man retrieving tools from his shed, and four others who perished on Monday.
Authorities warn that the fires could burn another 20,000 hectares as the situation remains critical.
Experts say northern Portugal faces the highest fire risk since 2001 due to low humidity, strong winds, and high temperatures.
Portugal’s prime minister, Luís Montenegro, canceled his Tuesday engagements and issued an extreme fire warning until Thursday.
After a wet start to the year, Portugal has recorded fewer wildfires, but current weather conditions have increased fire risks.
The government has significantly boosted fire-prevention funding following deadly blazes in 2017 that claimed 64 lives.