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 northeast 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.
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.
Reuters
Sun Jun 18 2017
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. -Reuters
[TERKINI] UM mohon maaf, ambil tindakan segera tangani situasi
Universiti Malaya kesal dengan kenyataan kontroversi penceramah jemputan warga asing yang tidak menghormati sentimen masyarakat seperti tular dalam laman media sosial.
Malaysia-Jepun tekad perkukuh kerjasama dalam sektor pembinaan
Menteri Kerja Raya Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi berkata perjanjian persefahaman dapat membuka peluang kepada pemain sektor pembinaan Malaysia meneroka pasaran Jepun selaras dengan pelaksanaan Perjanjian Komprehensif dan Progresif bagi Perkongsian Trans-Pasifik (CPTPP) dengan kedua-dua negara adalah ahlinya.
Hati-hati akaun fleksibel, guna sewaktu persaraan - Pakar
Pencarum seharusnya lebih berhati-hati dan merancangan kewangan dengan lebih baik susulan pengenalan akuan fleksibel Kwsp yang baharu.
Panel lima hakim Mahkamah Rayuan akan dengar permohonan Muhyiddin
Muhyiddin memohon bagi mendapatkan kebenaran menyemak keputusan panel sebelum ini yang mengembalikan semula empat pertuduhan salah guna kuasa membabitkan RM232.5 juta terhadapnya.
Dua maut kereta terbabas dan terbalik di Kuala Krai
Seorang lelaki dan wanita maut dalam kemalangan membabitkan sebuah kereta jenis Honda di Jalan Gua Musang-Kuala Krai dekat Kampung Pahi, pada Rabu.
MCMC kesan individu salah guna AI, sunting gambar aib - Fahmi
Langkah itu bertujuan membolehkan tindakan tegas diambil serta memastikan keselamatan pengguna dalam talian khususnya kanak-kanak, terjamin.
[TERKINI] Mahkamah: Suspek tembak KLIA dituduh cuba bunuh isteri
Lelaki yang melepaskan tembakan di Balai Ketibaan Terminal 1 Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa Kuala Lumpur (KLIA) didakwa lagi hari ini di Mahkamah Sesyen di sini atas dua pertuduhan termasuk cuba membunuh isterinya.
[TERKINI] Reman terhadap anak seorang MB disambung sehari lagi
Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah Malaysia (SPRM) memperoleh tempoh lanjutan tahanan reman terhadap anak Menteri Besar dan empat lagi suspek bagi membantu siasatan pemalsuan dokumen dalam membuat tuntutan palsu berjumlah RM600,000.
AWANI Ringkas: Akaun 3 KWSP diumum
Ikuti rangkuman berita utama yang menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari di Astro AWANI menerusi AWANI Ringkas.
Barcelona: Xavi buat pusingan-U
Khabar angin bertiup bahawa pengurus Barcelona, Xavi, akan meneruskan peranannya pada musim depan selepas mengubah fikirannya.
Do postponements cause delays in the Courts?
Cases may often be postponed or otherwise delayed for various reasons. The truth of the matter is that these delays may be necessary due to the Rule of law and due process.
Kerajaan komited 'sifar kematian berkaitan AIDS', kata Dr Subra
Kerajaan komited dalam usaha ke arah sifar kematian berkaitan AIDS, kata Menteri Kesihatan Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam.
Lady Thatcher dan Tun Mahathir: Pemimpin Gemilang-Nikesh Mehta
Pada Rabu lepas, saya berpeluang untuk bertemu dengan mantan Perdana Menteri Malaysia keempat, iaitu Y.Bhg Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad sewaktu lawatan beliau ke kediaman Pesuruh Jaya Tinggi British.