Portugal is battling over 50 wildfires across its central and northern regions, which have resulted in the deaths of seven people since Saturday, including three firefighters who died on Tuesday while fighting a blaze in Nelas, Reuters reports.
The fires, fueled by high temperatures, strong winds, and low humidity, have burned over 10,000 hectares of forest, with the most damage occurring in Aveiro district, where four people died and dozens of houses were destroyed. Around 5,300 firefighters have been mobilized, and several highways and train lines have been closed. Authorities fear that these fires could engulf another 20,000 hectares, further exacerbating the situation.
The Portuguese government has requested assistance from the European Union, with Spain, Italy, and Greece sending water-bombing aircraft to support the firefighting efforts.
