After more than 50 hours, firefighters were still battling a wildfire in central Portugal late on Monday, as villagers and local authorities blamed a lack of resources and government inaction for the damage caused by the flames.

So far, 39 people had been injured, including one who was in serious condition. Portugal's Civil Protection department said some villagers had been evacuated as a precaution and houses had been destroyed.

The fire was small in comparison with a massive blaze that hit the same region in June 2017, killing 64 people and burning about 55,000 hectares (136,000 acres) in a few days. That was the worst disaster in modern Portuguese history.

Data from the European Union fire-mapping service showed about 8,500 hectares (21,000 acres) burned over the weekend.

Civil Protection said earlier on Monday that the fire, which broke out on Saturday afternoon, was 90% under control, but warned that the remaining blazes required "a lot of attention" as the winds whipped up later in the day, fanning the flames in tinder-dry conditions.

By evening, the fire was only 70% under control because of the strong winds and high temperatures, Civil Protection commander Pedro Nunes said, adding there were currently no homes or villages at risk.

"The worst-case scenario happened," said Nunes. He said firefighters would adopt techniques overnight to put out the flames, including using four bulldozers provided by the armed forces.

Even though humidity is expected to remain low, the wind is set to lose strength in the early hours of Tuesday, which could help firefighters end the wildfire, Nunes added.

Covered in eucalyptus and pine trees, central Portugal is frequently hit by summer blazes, with hilly terrain making it especially difficult for firefighters to reach.

'THERE WAS NO ONE'

Villagers, as well as authorities in Macao and Vila de Rei, areas in the heart of the fire zone, said there were not enough firefighters and resources to combat the flames.

Sheep farmer Joaquim Ribeiro told Reuters there were no firefighters when the blaze arrived at his village in Macao, forcing him to transfer his animals elsewhere. "It was pandemonium."

Another sheep farmer, Fernando Cardoso, said he rushed to a nearby fire station as the flames approached his village but the firefighters told him they could not help until given the green light.

"The fire appeared out of nowhere," he said. "When we got here, there were flames everywhere, no place to turn, no firefighters, there was no one."

Local authorities have also pointed the finger at Portugal's Socialist government, led by Prime Minister Antonio Costa.

Speaking to Lusa news agency, the deputy mayor of Vila de Rei, Paulo Cesar, accused the government of not being able to prevent wildfires.

"The municipality is fed up with these successive fires linked to criminal activity and is fed up of seeing the state fail again," he said.

Asked by reporters about the complaints, Costa said the mayors were "primarily responsible" for protecting their own municipalities from wildfires through "proper management of their territory".

Internal Administration Minister Eduardo Cabrita said police had opened an investigation into the fires. Portugal’s judiciary police have collected evidence and artefacts that could be related to the fires' origin, an official told Lusa news agency.

In a statement, police said a 55-year-old man was detained on suspicion of starting a blaze in the Portuguese district of Castelo Branco. But a police source, quoted by Portuguese newspaper Observador, said the detention was not related to the fires in question.

The police did not reply to a Reuters request for comment.

Civil Protection said 1,079 firefighters were on the ground, backed up by 347 firefighting vehicles.

Spain said late on Monday that it was sending two aircraft to help tackle the fires in Portugal.

After more than 50 hours, firefighters were still battling a wildfire in central Portugal late on Monday, as villagers and local authorities blamed a lack of resources and government inaction for the damage caused by the flames.

After more than 50 hours, firefighters were still battling a wildfire in central Portugal late on Monday, as villagers and local authorities blamed a lack of resources and government inaction for the damage caused by the flames. So far, 39 people had been injured, including one who was in serious condition. Portugal's Civil Protection department said some villagers had been evacuated as a precaution and houses had been destroyed. The fire was small in comparison with a massive blaze that hit the same region in June 2017, killing 64 people and burning about 55,000 hectares (136,000 acres) in a few days. That was the worst disaster in modern Portuguese history. Data from the European Union fire-mapping service showed about 8,500 hectares (21,000 acres) burned over the weekend. Civil Protection said earlier on Monday that the fire, which broke out on Saturday afternoon, was 90% under control, but warned that the remaining blazes required "a lot of attention" as the winds whipped up later in the day, fanning the flames in tinder-dry conditions. By evening, the fire was only 70% under control because of the strong winds and high temperatures, Civil Protection commander Pedro Nunes said, adding there were currently no homes or villages at risk. "The worst-case scenario happened," said Nunes. He said firefighters would adopt techniques overnight to put out the flames, including using four bulldozers provided by the armed forces. Even though humidity is expected to remain low, the wind is set to lose strength in the early hours of Tuesday, which could help firefighters end the wildfire, Nunes added. Covered in eucalyptus and pine trees, central Portugal is frequently hit by summer blazes, with hilly terrain making it especially difficult for firefighters to reach. 'THERE WAS NO ONE' Villagers, as well as authorities in Macao and Vila de Rei, areas in the heart of the fire zone, said there were not enough firefighters and resources to combat the flames. Sheep farmer Joaquim Ribeiro told Reuters there were no firefighters when the blaze arrived at his village in Macao, forcing him to transfer his animals elsewhere. "It was pandemonium." Another sheep farmer, Fernando Cardoso, said he rushed to a nearby fire station as the flames approached his village but the firefighters told him they could not help until given the green light. "The fire appeared out of nowhere," he said. "When we got here, there were flames everywhere, no place to turn, no firefighters, there was no one." Local authorities have also pointed the finger at Portugal's Socialist government, led by Prime Minister Antonio Costa. Speaking to Lusa news agency, the deputy mayor of Vila de Rei, Paulo Cesar, accused the government of not being able to prevent wildfires. "The municipality is fed up with these successive fires linked to criminal activity and is fed up of seeing the state fail again," he said. Asked by reporters about the complaints, Costa said the mayors were "primarily responsible" for protecting their own municipalities from wildfires through "proper management of their territory". Internal Administration Minister Eduardo Cabrita said police had opened an investigation into the fires. Portugal’s judiciary police have collected evidence and artefacts that could be related to the fires' origin, an official told Lusa news agency. In a statement, police said a 55-year-old man was detained on suspicion of starting a blaze in the Portuguese district of Castelo Branco. But a police source, quoted by Portuguese newspaper Observador, said the detention was not related to the fires in question. The police did not reply to a Reuters request for comment. Civil Protection said 1,079 firefighters were on the ground, backed up by 347 firefighting vehicles. Spain said late on Monday that it was sending two aircraft to help tackle the fires in Portugal.

Villagers angry as Portugal wildfire still rages

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/more-than-1000-firefighters-battle-portugal-wildfires-237372">Blazes in central Portugal </a>reached houses on Sunday, forcing locals to take matters into their own hands as they tried to protect their homes from huge wildfires with buckets of water and hosepipes as strong winds fanned the flames.

One of the three wildfires which broke out on Saturday in Castelo Branco, a district 225 kilometres (139 miles) northeast of Lisbon, is still burning. Having spread to the nearby Santarem district, they threatened several villages in the Vila de Rei and Macao municipalities.

Portugal's Civil Protection said some houses were destroyed by the flames but did not give a specific number.

Around 870 firefighters are on the ground according to the National Authority for Civil Protection. However, a Reuters photographer in Vila de Rei said few firefighters were visible.

The wildfire was easing as the wind loses strength and temperatures drop during the night, a Civil Protection official told reporters in the early hours of Monday.

Authorities have evacuated villages and fluvial beaches as a precaution and 30 people have been injured. One civilian is in serious condition and remains hospitalised with first and second-degree burns.

The fires stirred memories of a devastating wildfire in the central town of Pedrogao Grande in June 2017, the worst disaster in modern Portuguese history, which killed 64 people and injured more than 250.

"The fire is out of control, without resources on the ground, and the population at risk," Vasco Estrela, the mayor of Macao, told Portuguese radio station TSF on Sunday. "We never thought we would live through this again."

Images broadcast by Portuguese TV channel TVI showed villagers in Macao trying to protect their houses and animals as smoke filled the air, forcing many to wear masks.

Around 300 firefighting vehicles are still on the ground battling the blazes, along with 20 soldiers and four bulldozers, according to the agency.

"It's a calamity here," 75-year-old resident Maria Nazare told Reuters as she watered around her brother's house in Macao. "I'm more afraid of his house than mine because his house is made of wood and he's not here."

Internal administration minister Eduardo Cabrita said police had opened an investigation on the fires, adding that local authorities considered it unusual that all the blazes had started in a narrow time frame between 2:30 pm and 3:30 pm local time (1330-1430 GMT) on Saturday in the same area.

Portugal's judiciary police have collected some evidence and artefacts that could be related to the fires' origin, an official told Lusa news agency.

In a statement, police said that a 55-year-old man was detained on suspicion of starting a blaze in the Portuguese district of Castelo Branco.

Quoted by Portuguese newspaper Observador, a police source said the detention was not related to the ongoing fires. The police did not immediately reply to a Reuters request for comment.

Several municipalities in Santarem and Castelo Branco are still considered at maximum risk of fire, according to the national meteorological agency.

Authorities hope to bring the wildfire under control by the morning but temperatures are expected to increase on Monday, reaching 38 degrees C (100.4°F) in Macao and 35 degrees C (95°F)in Vila Rei, the two most affected municipalities.

The fires' smoky clouds could be seen from the Spanish border.

On Twitter, European Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management Christos Stylianides said he is following the situation closely, adding that the European Union is ready to provide help.

Blazes in central Portugal reached houses on Sunday, forcing locals to take matters into their own hands as they tried to protect their homes from huge wildfires with buckets of water and hosepipes as strong winds fanned the flames.

Blazes in central Portugal reached houses on Sunday, forcing locals to take matters into their own hands as they tried to protect their homes from huge wildfires with buckets of water and hosepipes as strong winds fanned the flames. One of the three wildfires which broke out on Saturday in Castelo Branco, a district 225 kilometres (139 miles) northeast of Lisbon, is still burning. Having spread to the nearby Santarem district, they threatened several villages in the Vila de Rei and Macao municipalities. Portugal's Civil Protection said some houses were destroyed by the flames but did not give a specific number. Around 870 firefighters are on the ground according to the National Authority for Civil Protection. However, a Reuters photographer in Vila de Rei said few firefighters were visible. The wildfire was easing as the wind loses strength and temperatures drop during the night, a Civil Protection official told reporters in the early hours of Monday. Authorities have evacuated villages and fluvial beaches as a precaution and 30 people have been injured. One civilian is in serious condition and remains hospitalised with first and second-degree burns. The fires stirred memories of a devastating wildfire in the central town of Pedrogao Grande in June 2017, the worst disaster in modern Portuguese history, which killed 64 people and injured more than 250. "The fire is out of control, without resources on the ground, and the population at risk," Vasco Estrela, the mayor of Macao, told Portuguese radio station TSF on Sunday. "We never thought we would live through this again." Images broadcast by Portuguese TV channel TVI showed villagers in Macao trying to protect their houses and animals as smoke filled the air, forcing many to wear masks. Around 300 firefighting vehicles are still on the ground battling the blazes, along with 20 soldiers and four bulldozers, according to the agency. "It's a calamity here," 75-year-old resident Maria Nazare told Reuters as she watered around her brother's house in Macao. "I'm more afraid of his house than mine because his house is made of wood and he's not here." Internal administration minister Eduardo Cabrita said police had opened an investigation on the fires, adding that local authorities considered it unusual that all the blazes had started in a narrow time frame between 2:30 pm and 3:30 pm local time (1330-1430 GMT) on Saturday in the same area. Portugal's judiciary police have collected some evidence and artefacts that could be related to the fires' origin, an official told Lusa news agency. In a statement, police said that a 55-year-old man was detained on suspicion of starting a blaze in the Portuguese district of Castelo Branco. Quoted by Portuguese newspaper Observador, a police source said the detention was not related to the ongoing fires. The police did not immediately reply to a Reuters request for comment. Several municipalities in Santarem and Castelo Branco are still considered at maximum risk of fire, according to the national meteorological agency. Authorities hope to bring the wildfire under control by the morning but temperatures are expected to increase on Monday, reaching 38 degrees C (100.4°F) in Macao and 35 degrees C (95°F)in Vila Rei, the two most affected municipalities. The fires' smoky clouds could be seen from the Spanish border. On Twitter, European Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management Christos Stylianides said he is following the situation closely, adding that the European Union is ready to provide help.

Villagers, firefighters battle huge blazes in central Portugal

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Villagers angry as Portugal wildfire still rages

Villagers, firefighters battle huge blazes in central Portugal