A wildfire was Friday raging in the southern Portuguese region of Algarve, one of the country's main tourist destinations, dpa reported. The blaze destroyed about 20,000 hectares of pine and eucalyptus forest and hunting terrain. That amounted to around a third of the total in Tavira district, according to officials. The flames came at a distance of about 20 kilometres from the coast, which is popular among tourists. They were approaching the small town of Sao Bras de Alportel at 15 kilometres north of the Algarve capital Faro. Several buildings were reported destroyed, and domestic animals killed. About 100 patients were evacuated from a clinic as a precautionary measure. Several smaller fires were also reported in the north of Portugal. Two fires meanwhile continued devouring terrain near Funchal, capital of the Portuguese Atlantic island of Madeira, another tourist destination. Flames earlier damaged houses and industrial equipment in Palheiro Ferreiro, forcing the evacuation of more than 100 residents and some tourists. Up to 2,000 firefighters using dozens of vehicles as well as aircraft were battling flames in all of Portugal.
