After more than 50 hours, firefighters were still battling a wildfire in central Portugal late on Monday, as villagers and local authorities blamed a lack of resources and government inaction for the damage caused by the flames. So far, 39 people had been injured, including one who was in serious condition. Portugal's Civil Protection department said some villagers had been evacuated as a precaution and houses had been destroyed. The fire was small in comparison with a massive blaze that hit the same region in June 2017, killing 64 people and burning about 55,000 hectares in a few days. That was the worst disaster in modern Portuguese history. Data from the European Union fire-mapping service showed about 8,500 hectares burned over the weekend. Civil Protection said earlier on Monday that the fire, which broke out on Saturday afternoon, was 90% under control, but warned that the remaining blazes required "a lot of attention" as the winds whipped up later in the day, fanning the flames in tinder-dry conditions. By evening, the fire was only 70% under control because of the strong winds and high temperatures, Civil Protection commander Pedro Nunes said, adding there were currently no homes or villages at risk. "The worst-case scenario happened," said Nunes. He said firefighters would adopt techniques overnight to put out the flames, including using four bulldozers provided by the armed forces. Even though humidity is expected to remain low, the wind is set to lose strength in the early hours of Tuesday, which could help firefighters end the wildfire, Nunes added. Covered in eucalyptus and pine trees, central Portugal is frequently hit by summer blazes, with hilly terrain making it especially difficult for firefighters to reach. -Reuters
