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| Portugal forest fires: Three days of mourning for 61 victims | Portugal forest fires: Three days of mourning for 61 victims |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Portugal has declared three days of mourning for the 61 victims of one of the country's deadliest forest fires. | Portugal has declared three days of mourning for the 61 victims of one of the country's deadliest forest fires. |
| Four children are among the victims, many of whom were found dead inside their cars as they tried to flee the central forested region of Pedrógão Grande. | Four children are among the victims, many of whom were found dead inside their cars as they tried to flee the central forested region of Pedrógão Grande. |
| Hundreds of firefighters are continuing to tackle the blaze on several fronts. | Hundreds of firefighters are continuing to tackle the blaze on several fronts. |
| Prime Minister Antonio Costa called it "the greatest tragedy we have seen in recent years in terms of forest fires". | Prime Minister Antonio Costa called it "the greatest tragedy we have seen in recent years in terms of forest fires". |
| He said it was thought to have been sparked by a lightning strike. | He said it was thought to have been sparked by a lightning strike. |
| Portugal fire survivor: 'I should have died' | Portugal fire survivor: 'I should have died' |
| In pictures: Portugal forest fire | In pictures: Portugal forest fire |
| Four firefighters are among the 54 people injured in the fire, which is raging in several parts of a mountainous area some 200km north-east of the capital Lisbon. | Four firefighters are among the 54 people injured in the fire, which is raging in several parts of a mountainous area some 200km north-east of the capital Lisbon. |
| There are fears the death toll could rise, as a number of people are still missing. The period of national mourning ends on Tuesday. | There are fears the death toll could rise, as a number of people are still missing. The period of national mourning ends on Tuesday. |
| Bodies found inside cars | Bodies found inside cars |
| Emergency service workers were battling 156 fires across the country on Sunday, Prime Minister Costa said, adding that most of the victims had died in just one of them. | Emergency service workers were battling 156 fires across the country on Sunday, Prime Minister Costa said, adding that most of the victims had died in just one of them. |
| Secretary of State for the Interior Jorge Gomes said that most had died from smoke inhalation and burns, while two were killed in a road accident related to the fires. | Secretary of State for the Interior Jorge Gomes said that most had died from smoke inhalation and burns, while two were killed in a road accident related to the fires. |
| Thirty bodies were found inside cars, with another 17 next to the vehicles, on one road leading on to the IC8 motorway. | Thirty bodies were found inside cars, with another 17 next to the vehicles, on one road leading on to the IC8 motorway. |
| Another 11 died in a village next to the motorway. | Another 11 died in a village next to the motorway. |
| More than 1,600 firefighters are fighting five of the main fires, supported by about 400 vehicles and 18 aircraft, Portugal's Público reports. | |
| According to the prime minister, just 11 fires are still active but he said the authorities were "particularly worried about two of them". | According to the prime minister, just 11 fires are still active but he said the authorities were "particularly worried about two of them". |
| They have sent two army battalions to help the emergency services. | They have sent two army battalions to help the emergency services. |
| 'I could have died, I should have died' - fire survivor's tale | 'I could have died, I should have died' - fire survivor's tale |
| As the power went off, the flames hit hard, a fiery red tornado passed the windows. We crouched on the floor for a good hour, trying to breathe, praying, crying. | As the power went off, the flames hit hard, a fiery red tornado passed the windows. We crouched on the floor for a good hour, trying to breathe, praying, crying. |
| I am not ashamed to say it: I was praying, we were all praying. I am not religious, but at that time, you couldn't do anything else. | I am not ashamed to say it: I was praying, we were all praying. I am not religious, but at that time, you couldn't do anything else. |
| I said: "It can't end like this." I just started crying and got emotional - I was no use to anyone for 20 minutes. | I said: "It can't end like this." I just started crying and got emotional - I was no use to anyone for 20 minutes. |
| Eventually the fire passed and we emerged to see the smouldering remains of the village. Miraculously, our house and the one next door did not burn. | Eventually the fire passed and we emerged to see the smouldering remains of the village. Miraculously, our house and the one next door did not burn. |
| The devastation was indescribable. People, bewildered, remains of homes burning uncontrollably, concrete posts exploding over roads. | The devastation was indescribable. People, bewildered, remains of homes burning uncontrollably, concrete posts exploding over roads. |
| I couldn't believe what I was seeing. After the fire passed, it should still have been bright, but it was dark. There was a strange film over everyone's eyes. | I couldn't believe what I was seeing. After the fire passed, it should still have been bright, but it was dark. There was a strange film over everyone's eyes. |
| You could hear gas canisters exploding, see blue flashes going off. There was just a strange silence. There was a lull, a strange feeling. It then turned to relief, there was crying. | You could hear gas canisters exploding, see blue flashes going off. There was just a strange silence. There was a lull, a strange feeling. It then turned to relief, there was crying. |
| Read more from Gareth Roberts, a Brit who survived the fires | |
| France has offered three firefighting planes, while Spain has already sent two water-bombing aircraft to help tackle the fires. The European Union has also promised to provide firefighting aircraft. | France has offered three firefighting planes, while Spain has already sent two water-bombing aircraft to help tackle the fires. The European Union has also promised to provide firefighting aircraft. |
| Dozens of people who fled their homes have been taken in by residents of the nearby municipality of Ansiao. | Dozens of people who fled their homes have been taken in by residents of the nearby municipality of Ansiao. |
| Pope Francis, who visited Portugal last month, mentioned the victims in his weekly address: "I express my closeness to the beloved people of Portugal following the devastating fire." | Pope Francis, who visited Portugal last month, mentioned the victims in his weekly address: "I express my closeness to the beloved people of Portugal following the devastating fire." |
| French President Emmanuel Macron tweeted: "Solidarity with Portugal, hit by terrible fires. Our thoughts are with victims. France makes its aid available to Portugal." | French President Emmanuel Macron tweeted: "Solidarity with Portugal, hit by terrible fires. Our thoughts are with victims. France makes its aid available to Portugal." |
| The fires began on Saturday during an intense heatwave and rainless thunderstorms, with temperatures of more than 40C (104F) in some areas. Police say lightning striking a tree may have caused the fire. | The fires began on Saturday during an intense heatwave and rainless thunderstorms, with temperatures of more than 40C (104F) in some areas. Police say lightning striking a tree may have caused the fire. |
| "This is a region that has had fires because of its forests, but we cannot remember a tragedy of these proportions," Valdemar Alves, the mayor of Pedrógão Grande, was quoted as saying by the Associated Press agency. | "This is a region that has had fires because of its forests, but we cannot remember a tragedy of these proportions," Valdemar Alves, the mayor of Pedrógão Grande, was quoted as saying by the Associated Press agency. |
| "I am completely stunned by the number of deaths." | "I am completely stunned by the number of deaths." |
| Are you in the Pedrógão Grande area? Have you been affected by this incident? Let us know by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk | Are you in the Pedrógão Grande area? Have you been affected by this incident? Let us know by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk |
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