More than 700 firefighters backed by six aircraft battled a large wildfire in the hills around the resort areas of Cascais and Sintra near Portugal's capital Lisbon on Sunday after the blaze forced the evacuation of several hundred people overnight.

Officials said 18 people, mostly firefighters, had been lightly injured in the blaze that broke out late on Saturday, fanned by strong winds amid unusually hot weather for October.

"There are still two active fronts that worry us," a civil protection spokesman told a briefing, explaining that the arrival of water-bombing aircraft and more favourable weather had helped to control the flames after a difficult night.

As a precaution, the authorities removed 300 people from a local campsite during the night as well as nearly 50 residents of nearby villages.

Portugal suffered its deadliest wildfires in history last year, when 114 people were killed in two huge blazes.

In an effort to ensure the tragedy is not repeated, the government has hired hundreds of firefighters, stepping up controls to ensure landowners clear undergrowth that stokes fires and preemptively removing residents from risky areas.

More than 700 firefighters backed by six aircraft battled a large wildfire in the hills around the resort areas of Cascais and Sintra near Portugal's capital Lisbon on Sunday after the blaze forced the evacuation of several hundred people overnight.

More than 700 firefighters backed by six aircraft battled a large wildfire in the hills around the resort areas of Cascais and Sintra near Portugal's capital Lisbon on Sunday after the blaze forced the evacuation of several hundred people overnight. Officials said 18 people, mostly firefighters, had been lightly injured in the blaze that broke out late on Saturday, fanned by strong winds amid unusually hot weather for October. "There are still two active fronts that worry us," a civil protection spokesman told a briefing, explaining that the arrival of water-bombing aircraft and more favourable weather had helped to control the flames after a difficult night. As a precaution, the authorities removed 300 people from a local campsite during the night as well as nearly 50 residents of nearby villages. Portugal suffered its deadliest wildfires in history last year, when 114 people were killed in two huge blazes. In an effort to ensure the tragedy is not repeated, the government has hired hundreds of firefighters, stepping up controls to ensure landowners clear undergrowth that stokes fires and preemptively removing residents from risky areas.

Wildfire rages near Lisbon, hundreds evacuated

A&nbsp; major fire and stampede in a local leisure association in the town of Vila Nova da Rainha in northern Portugal has left eight people dead and dozens injured on Saturday.&nbsp;

According to Mayor Jose Antonio de Jesus, the fire occurred at a two-story gathering place attended by 60 people who had been watching and participating in a card tournament.&nbsp;

&quot;Several dozen people have been injured, some lightly and others gravely, and are still being assisted,&quot; he said.

The cause of the fire has yet to be disclosed, although, firefighters at the spot said that it happened due to the explosion of a heating boiler.&nbsp;

Dozens of firefighters and two rescue helicopters were deployed to tackle the blaze and help people vacate the spot, which lead to the stampede, media reports said.&nbsp;

The cause of the fire has yet to be disclosed, although, firefighters at the spot said that it happened due to an explosion of a heating boiler.

A major fire and stampede in a local leisure association in the town of Vila Nova da Rainha in northern Portugal has left eight people dead and dozens injured on Saturday. According to Mayor Jose Antonio de Jesus, the fire occurred at a two-story gathering place attended by 60 people who had been watching and participating in a card tournament. "Several dozen people have been injured, some lightly and others gravely, and are still being assisted," he said. The cause of the fire has yet to be disclosed, although, firefighters at the spot said that it happened due to the explosion of a heating boiler. Dozens of firefighters and two rescue helicopters were deployed to tackle the blaze and help people vacate the spot, which lead to the stampede, media reports said.

8 dead, dozens injured in fire, stampede in Portugal

Raging forest fires in central Portugal have killed at least 62 people, most of whom burnt to death in their cars, and injured scores of others, the government said Sunday.

Nearly 600 firefighters and 160 vehicles were dispatched late Saturday to tackle the blaze, which broke out in the afternoon in the municipality of Pedrogao Grande, about 50 kilometres (30 miles) from Coimbra, before spreading fast across several fronts.&nbsp;

&quot;Unfortunately, this seems to be the greatest tragedy we have seen in recent years in terms of forest fires,&quot; a visibly moved Prime Minister Antonio Costa said.

&quot;The number of fatalities could still rise,&quot; he said at the Civil Protection headquarters near Lisbon.&nbsp;

&quot;The priority now is to save those people who could still be in danger.&quot;

The European Union said it would provide firefighting planes following a request from Lisbon.

&quot;France has offered three planes through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism and they will be quickly sent to assist the local emergency efforts,&quot; EU Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management Christos Stylianides said.

Portugal was sweltering under a severe heatwave across the weekend, with temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) in several regions.

Some 60 forest fires broke out across the country during the night, with around 1,700 firefighters battling to put them out.&nbsp;

Secretary of State for the Interior Jorge Gomes said 57 people burned to death, mostly trapped in their cars engulfed by flames in the Leiria region. At least 59 were injured.&nbsp;

&quot;The fire is still raging on four fronts,&quot; he said, of which two were spreading &quot;violently&quot;.

&quot;It is difficult to say if they were fleeing the flames or were taken by surprise,&quot; Gomes said, speaking of the dead.

National mourning&nbsp;

Portugal has announced three-day mourning over the deadly blaze.

Dry thunderstorms were thought to have been the cause of the fatal blaze, according to the prime minister.

A number of villages were affected by the main fire and homes were evacuated. Some were sheltered in neighbouring areas.

&quot;There are people who arrived saying they didn&#39;t want to die in their homes,&quot; Ricardo Tristao told AFP.

Officials were not immediately able to comment on the extent of the damage.

Spain dispatched two water-bombing planes on Sunday morning to aid the Portuguese fire service on the ground, Costa said.

He added a period of national mourning would be announced shortly.

&quot;My thoughts are with the victims in Portugal,&quot; EU commission head Jean-Claude Juncker tweeted. &quot;I commend the bravery of the firefighters. EU civil protection mechanism activated &amp; will help.&quot;

President Marcelo Rebelo went to the Leiria region to meet families of the victims, &quot;sharing their pain in the name of all the Portuguese people,&quot; he said.&nbsp;

Firefighters did &quot;all they could&quot; when faced with the blaze, he added.

Dozens of people who fled their homes were taken in by residents of the nearby municipality of Ansiao.&nbsp;

&quot;There are people who arrived saying they didn&#39;t want to die in their homes, which were surrounded by flames,&quot; Ansiao resident Ricardo Tristao told reporters.

Portugal was hit by a series of fires last year which devastated more than 100,000 hectares (1,000 square kilometres) of the mainland.&nbsp;

Fires on the tourist island of Madeira in August killed three people, while over the course of 2016 around 40 homes were destroyed and 5,400 hectares of land burned.&nbsp;

(AFP)

Portugal declares three days of mourning over deadly forest blaze

Raging forest fires in central Portugal have killed at least 62 people, most of whom burnt to death in their cars, and injured scores of others, the government said Sunday. Nearly 600 firefighters and 160 vehicles were dispatched late Saturday to tackle the blaze, which broke out in the afternoon in the municipality of Pedrogao Grande, about 50 kilometres (30 miles) from Coimbra, before spreading fast across several fronts. "Unfortunately, this seems to be the greatest tragedy we have seen in recent years in terms of forest fires," a visibly moved Prime Minister Antonio Costa said. "The number of fatalities could still rise," he said at the Civil Protection headquarters near Lisbon. "The priority now is to save those people who could still be in danger." The European Union said it would provide firefighting planes following a request from Lisbon. "France has offered three planes through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism and they will be quickly sent to assist the local emergency efforts," EU Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management Christos Stylianides said. Portugal was sweltering under a severe heatwave across the weekend, with temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) in several regions. Some 60 forest fires broke out across the country during the night, with around 1,700 firefighters battling to put them out. Secretary of State for the Interior Jorge Gomes said 57 people burned to death, mostly trapped in their cars engulfed by flames in the Leiria region. At least 59 were injured. "The fire is still raging on four fronts," he said, of which two were spreading "violently". "It is difficult to say if they were fleeing the flames or were taken by surprise," Gomes said, speaking of the dead. National mourning Portugal has announced three-day mourning over the deadly blaze. Dry thunderstorms were thought to have been the cause of the fatal blaze, according to the prime minister. A number of villages were affected by the main fire and homes were evacuated. Some were sheltered in neighbouring areas. "There are people who arrived saying they didn't want to die in their homes," Ricardo Tristao told AFP. Officials were not immediately able to comment on the extent of the damage. Spain dispatched two water-bombing planes on Sunday morning to aid the Portuguese fire service on the ground, Costa said. He added a period of national mourning would be announced shortly. "My thoughts are with the victims in Portugal," EU commission head Jean-Claude Juncker tweeted. "I commend the bravery of the firefighters. EU civil protection mechanism activated & will help." President Marcelo Rebelo went to the Leiria region to meet families of the victims, "sharing their pain in the name of all the Portuguese people," he said. Firefighters did "all they could" when faced with the blaze, he added. Dozens of people who fled their homes were taken in by residents of the nearby municipality of Ansiao. "There are people who arrived saying they didn't want to die in their homes, which were surrounded by flames," Ansiao resident Ricardo Tristao told reporters. Portugal was hit by a series of fires last year which devastated more than 100,000 hectares (1,000 square kilometres) of the mainland. Fires on the tourist island of Madeira in August killed three people, while over the course of 2016 around 40 homes were destroyed and 5,400 hectares of land burned. (AFP)

Portugal forest fire: Death toll mounts to 62

The Portuguese football team led by Cristiano Ronaldo returned home to a heroes welcome today after their upset triumph over France in the Euro 2016 final. 
 
Tens of thousands of fans waited for the team at Lisbon airport when their special flight arrived. There have been joyous nationwide celebrations since the 1-0 win at the Stade de France in Paris on Sunday night. 
 
Two airport fire trucks sprayed jets of water in the green and red national colours as the the plane taxied to the terminal. 
 
Ronaldo and coach Fernando Santos were first to emerge from the plane with the trophy. 
 
Man-of-the-match defender Pepe carried the prize down the steps, where the 23-man squad boarded an open-top bus to start a victory parade for the country&#39;s first major international football honour. 
 
After meeting President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, the bus was to take Ronaldo and his fellow-conquerors on a tour of the capital. 
 
(AFP)

Tens of thousands of fans waited for the team at Lisbon airport, the city was one huge party pad

The Portuguese football team led by Cristiano Ronaldo returned home to a heroes welcome today after their upset triumph over France in the Euro 2016 final. Tens of thousands of fans waited for the team at Lisbon airport when their special flight arrived. There have been joyous nationwide celebrations since the 1-0 win at the Stade de France in Paris on Sunday night. Two airport fire trucks sprayed jets of water in the green and red national colours as the the plane taxied to the terminal. Ronaldo and coach Fernando Santos were first to emerge from the plane with the trophy. Man-of-the-match defender Pepe carried the prize down the steps, where the 23-man squad boarded an open-top bus to start a victory parade for the country's first major international football honour. After meeting President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, the bus was to take Ronaldo and his fellow-conquerors on a tour of the capital. (AFP)

Lisbon welcomes its Europe-conquering heroes in style

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