PENELA, Portugal: Raging forest fires in central Portugal have killed at least 43 people, most of whom burnt to death in their cars, and injured scores of others, the government said Sunday. “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. 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 43 people burned to death, mostly trapped in their cars engulfed by flames in the Leiria region. “It is difficult to say if they were fleeing the flames or were taken by surprise.”AFP

Source: Manila Times June 18, 2017 08:03 UTC