Portugal evacuates villages as wildfires injure 19, deploy 1,800 firefighters

Lisbon: Portuguese authorities evacuated residents from two villages as wildfires injured 19 people and threatened homes across three districts, involving over 1,800 firefighters.

Portuguese authorities evacuated dozens of residents from two villages Friday as wildfires injured at least 19 people and threatened homes across three districts, with more than 1,800 firefighters deployed nationwide.

The blaze in Ponte da Barca remains the most concerning hotspot, with dozens of people being evacuated from their homes in rural areas of Sobredo and Paradela.

In Ponte da Barca’s district of Viano do Castelo, some 622 firefighters, 214 ground crews and one aerial vehicle were battling the blaze on Friday.

Overnight, around 60 people had to leave their homes in Viano do Castelo due to the proximity of the fire that broke out on Saturday in the Peneda-Gerês National Park.