Portugal waits for aid as raging fire kills 12

6 August 2003, 18:00 PM

AFP, Lisbon

Facing its worst disaster in decades, Portugal on Wednesday waited for international aid to battle wildfires that have cost 12 lives in a single week and destroyed vast swathes of forest, with temperatures expected to hit 42 Celsius in some regions.

Prime Minister Jose Manuel Durao Barroso's government Tuesday asked the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) to provide up to six Canadair water-dropping aircraft along with three heavy-duty helicopters and crews, a foreign ministry spokesman said.

It also asked the European Union for emergency aid from the EU's solidarity fund, which helps member countries cope with catastrophes.

The government declared a national disaster on Monday as the fires, described as the worst in the nation's history, ravaged more than 50,000 hectares (124,000 acres) in central and southern Portugal.

The fires spread explosively in hot, dry weather and strong winds, which abated slightly overnight, enabling firefighters to dominate some of the flames. But the National Rescue Operation Centre said eight large blazes were still burning out of control.

After visiting one of areas hit by flames on Tuesday Prime Minister Jose Manuel Durao Barroso told his countrymen not to allow themselves to get depressed.

"It's a big tragedy, that's true, but we can't start feeling sorry about what has happened to us, we must move forward," said the prime minister.

The government has made more than 100 million euros (113 million dollars) in aid available to those who have lost their homes or livelihoods to the fast-moving flames.

More than 3,000 firefighters aided by 400 soldiers have been battling the fires, some which have burned for almost a week, according to the duty director of the centre, Antonio Gualdino.