European nations scrambled to help Portugal tackle raging forest fires on Wednesday, as more than 7,000 firefighters battled nine major blazes and hundreds of smaller outbreaks.
Forest fires have been blazing in northern and central Portugal throughout the week with a warm front causing the mercury to hit 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) on Tuesday.
The National Civil Protection Authority (ANPC) said that on Wednesday nine "significant" fires were still underway, with the biggest having blazed since Monday around the town of Server do Vouga.
On Tuesday alone 459 outbreaks were recorded, requiring the deployment of 7,200 firefighters, it said.
Italy deployed two water-bomber planes to Portugal on Wednesday as part of the European Union's mutual aid system which were expected to be in place by the afternoon, EU officials said.
"Because of the very critical forest fire situation Portugal requested heavy aerial means to combat forest fires," European Commission spokesman Michael Mann told a news briefing in Brussels.
"The forest fire situation in Portugal was already critical but has become even more aggravated over the last few days," he said.
Italy, France and Greece each offered to deploy two firefighting planes to Portugal, and Lisbon took up Rome's offer.
Portugal's national weather service said temperatures had fallen slightly on Wednesday and should decrease more quickly from Friday.
Share This Article With Planet Earth
