Foreign aid for severe wildfire in Portugal

TT

Published 15.51

 

A wildfire in Portugal is being fought by around 1,200 firefighters. Archive photo. Photo: Armando Franca/AP/TT

A severe wildfire in Portugal continues to grow and foreign aid has arrived.

The fire in the area around Viseu southeast of Porto started on Wednesday and has grown by 2,000 hectares in the last 24 hours alone. Now around 12,000 hectares have been ravaged by fire.

Nine people have been injured, two of whom are civilians seriously.

Around 1,200 firefighters are trying to get the fire under control with the help of nearly 400 ground vehicles and 15 aircraft and helicopters.

Spain has sent 120 firefighters and 45 vehicles to Portugal. Three firefighting aircraft from Italy and Spain have also arrived.

A wildfire is also raging outside Greece's second largest city, Thessaloniki.

Evacuation warnings have been issued for three suburbs and in parts of the city, residents are being urged to stay indoors and keep windows and doors closed due to toxic smoke.