Vergennes
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Terrible. RIP.
Portugal forest fires claim at least 57 lives with 18 people 'incinerated' as they are trapped in their cars
It is possibly the deadliest-ever single forest blaze in Portugal.
Of the 59 people injured, four are in a serious condition, and four firefighters and a child are all injured.
Teams of psychologists have been deployed to care for survivors, who are 'in shock' and have lost relatives.
Firefighters work to put out a forest fire near Bouca, in central Portugal. The forest fires have already claimed 39 lives, 59 people are injured and at least two people are missing
Police said lightning was to blame for the increasing death toll.
Policia Judiciaria Nacional director Almeida Rodrigues ruled out arson.
He said: 'The PJ, together with the GNR police force, have managed to establish the origin of the fire and it's all clearly pointing towards natural causes.
'We've even found a tree that was struck by lightning.
'We've managed to determine that the fire was caused by thunderstorms.'
The death toll is expected to rise further during the day as 'many' people were said to be still missing.
A man stands on the roadside watching a wildfire at Anciao, Leiria, central Portugal. The wildfire has killed at least 43 people and injured 16 others, many of them burning to death in their cars, the government said today
Several roads of Pedrógão Grande have been cut off as firemen still battle the blaze on four different fronts, fanned by the heat and wind.
The blaze has been described as 'almost impossible to control' and emergency services have spoken of a 'horrible scenario'.
It is not yet known if any British people are involved.
The death toll was released today by Jorge Gomes, the secretary of state for internal affairs, having climbed from the 19 initially announced late on Saturday.
Portuguese National Republican Guard firefighters work to stop the fire from reaching the village of Avelar at sunrise today. 16 people died in their cars when fire reached the road
'We are facing the greatest tragedy of human victims of recent times by a disaster of this type,' said the Portuguese prime minister, António Costa.
The 16 people died in their cars on a road between the towns of Figueiro dos Vinhos and Castanheira de Pera.
The blaze broke out on Saturday afternoon in the municipality of Pedrógão Grande, central Portugal.
The cause is not yet known.
At least two people are still missing and homes have been destroyed.
Portugal has been experiencing soaring temperatures of up to 40 degrees and this, coupled with the wind, has been fueling the flames.
Some 600 firefighters have been fighting the blaze, helped by Spanish rescuers.
Efforts are now being made to confirm the identity of the victims.
Portugal has been experiencing soaring temperatures of up to 40 degrees and this, coupled with the wind, has been fueling the flames. Some 600 firefighters have been fighting the blaze, helped by Spanish rescuers
Portugal forest fires claim at least 57 lives with 18 people 'incinerated' as they are trapped in their cars
- The the devastating forest blaze broke out on Saturday in central Portugal
- 59 people are injured, 'many' people are still missing and homes are ruined
- Portugal has had temperatures of up to 40C with wind and lightening storms which have fuelled the flames
- Some 600 firefighters have been fighting the blaze, helped by Spanish rescuers
- It is possibly the deadliest-ever single forest to rage through the country
It is possibly the deadliest-ever single forest blaze in Portugal.
Of the 59 people injured, four are in a serious condition, and four firefighters and a child are all injured.
Teams of psychologists have been deployed to care for survivors, who are 'in shock' and have lost relatives.
Police said lightning was to blame for the increasing death toll.
Policia Judiciaria Nacional director Almeida Rodrigues ruled out arson.
He said: 'The PJ, together with the GNR police force, have managed to establish the origin of the fire and it's all clearly pointing towards natural causes.
'We've even found a tree that was struck by lightning.
'We've managed to determine that the fire was caused by thunderstorms.'
The death toll is expected to rise further during the day as 'many' people were said to be still missing.
A man stands on the roadside watching a wildfire at Anciao, Leiria, central Portugal. The wildfire has killed at least 43 people and injured 16 others, many of them burning to death in their cars, the government said today
Several roads of Pedrógão Grande have been cut off as firemen still battle the blaze on four different fronts, fanned by the heat and wind.
The blaze has been described as 'almost impossible to control' and emergency services have spoken of a 'horrible scenario'.
It is not yet known if any British people are involved.
The death toll was released today by Jorge Gomes, the secretary of state for internal affairs, having climbed from the 19 initially announced late on Saturday.
'We are facing the greatest tragedy of human victims of recent times by a disaster of this type,' said the Portuguese prime minister, António Costa.
The 16 people died in their cars on a road between the towns of Figueiro dos Vinhos and Castanheira de Pera.
The blaze broke out on Saturday afternoon in the municipality of Pedrógão Grande, central Portugal.
The cause is not yet known.
At least two people are still missing and homes have been destroyed.
Portugal has been experiencing soaring temperatures of up to 40 degrees and this, coupled with the wind, has been fueling the flames.
Some 600 firefighters have been fighting the blaze, helped by Spanish rescuers.
Efforts are now being made to confirm the identity of the victims.
Portugal has been experiencing soaring temperatures of up to 40 degrees and this, coupled with the wind, has been fueling the flames. Some 600 firefighters have been fighting the blaze, helped by Spanish rescuers
