Portugal forest fire leaves at least 62 people dead

A raging forest fire in central Portugal destroyed several homes and left more than 62 people dead, many of whom were trapped in their cars while driving in the area, the Portuguese government said on Sunday.

Prime Minister António Costa described the blaze in the Pedrógão Grande area as "the worst tragedy in terms of human lives that we've known in recent years." European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker sent a letter to Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, expressing "profound sadness" for the fire in Pedrogao Grande and offering "most felt solidarity."

Jorge Gomes, the secretary of state for internal administration, said at least 22 people had died in their cars, trapped by the flames while driving along a road between Figueiró dos Vinhos and Castanheira de Pera through the densely forested area where the fire started. The fire spread along four different fronts with "great violence," he said. A 4-year-old child was among the dead, according to TVI, a local television channel. The national TV broadcaster and Lusa, the national news agency, quoting Gomes, said on Sunday that the death toll stood at 62. Officials said that they expected the toll to rise. Several houses were destroyed by the flames. Portuguese television showed people scrambling to leave their homes in the early hours of Sunday morning, escorted by firefighters and other rescue teams. Huge flames engulfed hamlets around the area.

By noon on Sunday, about 1,600 firefighters were battling five fires in different parts of central Portugal with the support of firefighting planes, as well as units of the police and the military. At least 900 firefighters were focusing on the Pedrógão Grande area, where a deadly blaze started on Saturday. It was unclear whether any of the other fires had also claimed victims.

Eleven districts were under surveillance on Sunday because of an extreme fire risk. And firefighters were trying to prevent fires from spreading to more houses.

European Union officials in Brussels said on Sunday that they had activated the bloc's civil protection mechanism to send reinforcements to Portugal.

Spain also dispatched two planes to help contain the fire. The cause of the fire Pedrógão Grande area was not immediately clear. Officials suggested that it had been spurred by a dry thunderstorm, in which lightning strikes but there is no rainfall.

Portugal has been hit regularly by devastating summer forest fires.