Three dead and seventeen injured in wildfires in Portugal: 'Situation is complex'

portugal - Wildfires in the region of the Portuguese city of Aveiro have claimed the lives of at least three people, with seventeen others injured. More than 3,500 firefighters, emergency services personnel, and soldiers are battling the fires in northern and central Portugal.

Wildfires in the region of the Portuguese city of Aveiro have claimed the lives of at least three people, with seventeen others injured. A firefighter had already died from a heart attack on Sunday evening during the firefighting operations. The bodies of two other victims were recovered on Monday. The situation is described as complex but not out of control by local emergency services chief André Fernandes.

One of the fatal victims was an employee of a forestry company caught off guard by the fire. Another victim suffered a heart attack while trying to extinguish the fire near his home. The Portuguese government has requested assistance from the EU, with Spain, France, Italy, and Greece responding to the call. Spanish aircraft are expected in Portugal on Monday.

In the Aveiro region, three major wildfires and several smaller ones are raging. The municipality of Albergaria-a-Velha, 60 km south of Porto with 25,000 residents, has seen homes, shops, and vehicles affected by the blaze. The sky above the regional capital Aveiro and other coastal areas has turned dark with smoke. Residents are advised to stay indoors and minimize water usage.