LISBON, Portugal (Reuters) – Holiday makers arriving on Sunday (June 18) night at Lisbon’s airport said they were concerned about the situation in Portugal following a forest fire that has killed at least 62 people in the central part of the country.
The death toll released by Jorge Gomes, the secretary of state for internal affairs, has gradually climbed from the 19 initially announced late on Saturday. Gomes said most of the victims were caught in their vehicles on the road.
Another 54 people have been injured and taken to hospitals, including four in serious condition.
Various local residents said they had been left to their own devices and had seen no firefighters for hours while their homes burned.
Others complained about poor forestry reserve planning and depopulation of remote villages, which leaves many wooded areas unattended.
The government declared three days of mourning and sent two army battalions to help the emergency services.
