LISBON - SABA : At least three firefighters were killed while extinguishing a forest fire in northern Portugal that has been raging since the end of last week, bringing the death toll to seven people.
The head of the National Civil Protection, Andre Fernandes, told reporters on Tuesday that the three firefighters, two women and a man, were trapped by the fire near Nelas in the Viseu region.
The fires destroyed vast areas of those forests that have been burning since the beginning of the summer, causing deaths and injuries.
The fires surrounded about 4,200 firefighters working to extinguish about 50 raging fires fueled by strong winds in Portugal, where about 50 people were also injured or burned.
The head of the National Civil Protection, Andre Fernandes, told reporters on Tuesday that the three firefighters, two women and a man, were trapped by the fire near Nelas in the Viseu region.
The fires destroyed vast areas of those forests that have been burning since the beginning of the summer, causing deaths and injuries.
The fires surrounded about 4,200 firefighters working to extinguish about 50 raging fires fueled by strong winds in Portugal, where about 50 people were also injured or burned.