Hundreds of firefighters battle wildfire in Portugal

More than 700 firefighters yesterday battled a wildfire sweeping across a part of central Portugal, with strong winds complicating efforts to tackle the blaze.

The wildfire has been raging in the municipality of Oleiros since Saturday afternoon but it has now spread to two neighbouring municipalities and has already forced the precautionary evacuation of several people.

Tap here to add The Daily Star as a trusted source

A 21-year-old firefighter died in a road accident on Saturday evening while fighting the fire and six others were injured.

"I would like to send a word of solidarity, encouragement and thanks to the firefighters ... for the work they do for Portugal and for all of us," Prime Minister Antonio Costa said in a statement.

The fires are small compared with a massive fire that hit the region in June 2017, killing 66 people and injuring more than 250.