Lightning-Sparked Wildfires Kill 61 In Portugal; Some Victims Burned To Death In Their Cars

[hatrack]

A raging wildfire has ripped through central Portugal, killing 61 people and injuring dozens more in what officials there describe as the "greatest wildfire tragedy of recent years."

At least 54 people were injured in the blaze Saturday, including eight firefighters and a child. Four of the firefighters were in critical condition Sunday, according to Paulo Santos, an operations and emergencies official with the National Relief Operations Command in Lisbon. The government has declared three days of mourning.

The head of Portugal's judiciary police told reporters the fire was started by natural causes. "We have been able to determine that the origin of the fire was caused by dry thunderstorms," José Maria Almeida Rodrigues said, according to the Portuguese state-run news agency Lusa. Some victims were burned to death in their cars as they tried to flee, officials said.

EDIT

The municipality's Mayor, Valdemar Alves, said there were areas "completely surrounded" by the blaze and not enough firefighters to battle the flames. "The violence of this fire was such that I am certain many people have died," Alves told TVI. "I am shocked with this death toll." Authorities said the number of victims may rise as fire officials inspect the villages affected. More than 700 firefighters and other emergency responders are battling the blaze.

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http://www.cnn.com/2017/06/18/europe/portugal-fire/index.html

[shenmue]

1. Awful

[Kaleva]

2. The terror the deceased must have felt as the flames overtook them.