Portugal Joins Britain In Fire Tragedies

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...  As Wild Fires Claim Scores Of Lives


Fire and smoke is seen on the IC8 motorway during a forest fire near Pedrogao Grande, in central Portugal, 18 June 2017.
*The wildfires spread fast on Saturday, and across several fronts

In less than a week of the Grenfell Tower fire tragedy in West London that claimed 58 lives with some people yet missing, Portugal is facing her own national fire calamity as forest fire in the region of Pedrógão Grande is reported to have claimed the lives of 62 people including four children.
According reports monitored on BBC news, some of the victims died in their cars in which they were trying to escape the raging inferno, while some died in their homes and others on the road.
The blaze is thought to have started from a lightning strike.
According to BBC, "Four firefighters are among the 54 people injured in the fire, which is raging in several parts of a mountainous area some 200km north-east of the capital Lisbon.
"There are fears the death toll could rise, as a number of people are still missing. The period of national mourning ends on Tuesday.
Bodies found inside cars
"Emergency service workers were battling 156 fires across the country on Sunday, Prime Minister Costa said, adding that most of the victims had died in just one of them.
"Secretary of State for the Interior Jorge Gomes said that most had died from smoke inhalation and burns, while two were killed in a road accident related to the fires.
"Thirty bodies were found inside cars, with another 17 next to the vehicles, on one road leading on to the IC8 motorway.
"Another 11 died in a village next to the motorway.
Firefighters battle a forest fire in Figueiro dos Vinhos, central Portugal, 18 June 2017.
*Some of the hundreds of firefighters tackling the blaze were injured
"More than 1,600 firefighters are fighting five of the main fires, supported by about 400 vehicles and 18 aircraft, Portugal's Público reports.
"According to the prime minister, just 11 fires are still active but he said the authorities were "particularly worried about two of them".
"They have sent two army battalions to help the emergency services."
A woman sits on a street during a forest fire in Pedrógão Grande, Leiria District, Center of Portugal, 17 June 2017
*A few of the rescued injured people
Burnt cars and body bags on the N236 road between Figueiro dos Vinhos and Castanheira de Pera, near Pedrógão Grande., central Portugal, 18 June 2017
*Burnt cars
A wildfire is reflected in a stream at Penela, Coimbra, central Portugal, on June 18, 2017.
*Rampaging inferno

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