DISASTER At least 39 people killed in massive fire in Portugal [forest fire]

[Melodi]

At least 39 people killed in massive fire in Portugal
Firefighters work to put out a forest fire near Bouca, in central Portugal

Firefighters work to put out a forest fire near Bouca, in central Portugal

June 18 2017 7:17 AM

39 people have been killed in forest fires in central Portugal, many of them trapped in their cars as flames swept over a road.

The Interior Ministry, confirmed at least 39 people had been killed in blazes in the Pedrogao Grande area, about 93 miles north east of Lisbon.

Around 600 firefighters were trying to put out the blazes, which started on Saturday.

Interior Ministry official Jorge Gomes said at least 16 people died in their cars on a road between the towns of Figueiro dos Vinhos and Castanheira de Pera and three died from smoke inhalation in Figueiro dos Vinhos.

Smoke rises from a forest fire, seen from the village of Mourisco in central Portugal

Public broadcaster RTP said there were about 20 injured, including six firefighters. Fourteen of the injured were in a serious condition.

Prime Minister Antonio Costa called it a "tragedy of a big dimension".

He said authorities were working on identifying the victims and Spanish rescuers would help efforts to put out the fires.

Televised images showed a huge wall of flames leaping over the top of trees in the wooded region.

Smoke rises from a forest fire, seen from the village of Mourisco in central Portugal,

Portugal has suffered high temperatures that have reached 40C (104F) in recent days.

It is prone to forest fires in the dry summer months.

Online Editors
http://www.independent.ie/world-new...led-in-massive-fire-in-portugal-35838028.html

 

[Melodi]

At least 57 people killed in massive fire in Portugal

A burned car is seen in the aftermath of a forest fire near Pedrogao Grande, in central Portugal

June 18 2017 7:17 AM

A forest fire raging since Saturday in central Portugal has killed at least 57 people, a government official said on Sunday, in what is possibly the deadliest-ever single forest blaze in Portugal.

The death toll released by Jorge Gomes, the secretary of state for internal affairs, has gradually climbed from the 19 initially announced late on Saturday. Gomes said most of the victims were caught in their vehicles on the road.

Another 59 people have been injured and taken to hospitals, including five in serious condition.

The blaze on Saturday hit the mountainous area of Pedrogao Grande, 200 km northheast of Lisbon, amid an intense heat wave and rainless thunderstorms. Police said a lightning striking a tree probably caused the fire.

Hundreds of firefighters were still battling the flames on Sunday morning. Various local motorways were shut for safety reasons.

"The smoke cloud is very low, which does not allow helicopters and fire planes to work efficiently ... but we're doing everything possible and impossible to put out this fire," Gomes said, adding that no villages were currently at risk.

President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa visited the site of the tragedy during the night and later expressed his condolences.

The "situation is unfortunately atypical ... " he said. "It was not possible to do more than what has been done" in prevention and the immediate response.

Smoke rises from a forest fire, seen from the village of Mourisco in central Portugal,

Television footage showed hundreds of local residents being treated for smoke intoxication in emergency services tents set up in the area. Many who lost their homes were transferred to temporary shelters.

Online Editors
http://www.independent.ie/world-new...led-in-massive-fire-in-portugal-35838028.html

 

[Amazed]

Prayers for these poor people. Too many major tragedies lately.

 

[Melodi]

At least 62 people killed in massive fire in Portugal
A burned car is seen in the aftermath of a forest fire near Pedrogao Grande, in central Portugal


June 18 2017 7:17 AM

A huge forest fire raging since Saturday in central Portugal has killed at least 62 people, the government said on Sunday, in what is possibly the deadliest-ever forest blaze in the Atlantic coastal country, used to the woods burning almost every summer.

"The dimension of this fire was such that we don't have memory of such a human tragedy," Prime Minister Antonio Costa said as he arrived in Pedrogao Grande, a mountainous area some 200 km northeast of Lisbon.
http://www.independent.ie/world-new...led-in-massive-fire-in-portugal-35838028.html

 

[mzkitty]

Horrible.

Drone footage shows Portugal wildfire devastation


last updated: 19/06/2017

This is the drone footage which offers a glimpse of the devastation caused by one of Portugal’s deadliest forest fires.

The blaze has so far killed 62 people, many of whom died in their cars as they were fleeing the flames that destroyed their homes.

Drone footage shows the burnt-out wreckage of cars strewn across a main road leading through the Pedrogao Grande area.

Portugal Prime Minister Antonio Costa said the emergency services acted as fast as they could but acknowledged that some of the efforts like alerting the population might have been hindered because the blaze had ruined phone lines and communications towers.

Some local residents said they had been left without firefighters for hours as their homes burned. Many blamed poor forestry reserve planning and depopulation of remote villages that left many wooded areas untended.

http://www.euronews.com/2017/06/19/watch-drone-footage-shows-aftermath-of-portugal-s-deadly-wildfire

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ed6PTKGhif8