Grapevine

By Al Jazeera
Sep 18, 2024

Three firefighters die as Portugal battles dozens of wildfires

The death toll in the latest wave of fires increases to seven as Portugal seeks help from the European Union.

Three Portuguese firefighters have died in one of dozens of forest blazes ravaging the country, bringing the death toll from the recently erupted wildfires to seven people since Saturday, authorities said.

Portugal is fighting more than 50 active wildfires on its mainland and has mobilised about 5,300 firefighters, as well as calling for European Union help.

Authorities have closed several motorways, including a stretch of the main highway linking Lisbon and Porto, and suspended train connections on two railroad lines in northern Portugal.

Raging since the weekend before worsening on Monday, the blazes have also injured at least 40 people, including 33 firefighters, according to the latest figures from the authorities.