© Reuters. The sun and a fire helicopter are seen as a forest fire develops in Venda do Pinheiro, Mafra, Portugal, July 31, 2022. REUTERS / Pedro Nunes
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MAFRA, Portugal (Reuters) – Hundreds of firefighters battled a blaze that raged in a Portuguese city near Lisbon on Sunday as high temperatures and strong winds made it difficult to put out. more difficult.
Supported by water bombers and 123 vehicles, more than 400 firefighters were dispatched after the fire broke out in a mountainous area of the city of Mafra at around 3pm local time (1400 GMT). ) on Sunday.
A huge cloud of black smoke enveloped the town of Venda do Pinheiro, in Mafra, with the blaze forcing authorities to block off some roads and evacuate a care home. Many locals left their homes out of fear.
According to a Reuters witness, smoke could be seen rising from the fire from Lisbon’s city center, about 33 kilometers (21 miles) south.
Other fires are raging elsewhere in Portugal, including in the central municipality of Ourem, where flames burned thousands of hectares two weeks ago. More than 1,000 firefighters have been mobilized across the country.
Like other European countries, Portugal has experienced a devastating heatwave in recent weeks, with temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius (104 °F) in various parts of the country. Although the heat has eased, temperatures are rising again.
The IPMA weather agency said three counties in northern Portugal will be placed on “red alert” for extreme heat on Monday.
