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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
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Catarina Demony & Miguel Pereira & Pedro Nunes & Ryan Fahey

Horrifying images as firefighters struggle to battle raging Portugal wildfire

Hundreds of firefighters are desperately tackling a raging inferno as temperatures spike.

Emergency services battled a blaze raging in a Portuguese municipality near the capital Lisbon as high temperatures and strong winds made it harder to put out the flames.

Backed by water-bombers and 123 vehicles, more than 400 firefighters were brought in after a fire erupted in a mountainous area of the municipality of Mafra at around 3pm local time (2pmGMT) on Sunday.

A huge cloud of black smoke billowed over the town of Venda do Pinheiro, in Mafra, with the fire forcing authorities to block several roads and evacuate a care home.

Many locals left their homes out of fear.

Smoke rising from the fire could be seen from Lisbon's city centre, around 33km (21 miles) south, according to a Reuters witness.

Other fires were raging elsewhere in Portugal, including in the central municipality of Ourem, where flames destroyed thousands of hectares two weeks ago.

A couple looks at each other as smoke rises from a wildfire in Venda do Pinheiro in Mafra, Portugal yesterday (REUTERS)

More than 1,000 firefighters were mobilised across the country.

Like other European nations, Portugal experienced a scorching heatwave in recent weeks, with temperatures exceeding 40C (104F) in various parts of the country.

Although the heat has eased, temperatures are climbing again.

Weather agency IPMA said three districts in northern Portugal would be on "red alert" for extreme heat on Monday.

A firefighter tackles a wildfire in Mafra yesterday (AFP via Getty Images)

British tourists were among those evacuated from hotels today as raging wildfires continued to scorch holiday hotspots in Portugal.

Searing heat and weeks of drought have led to the popular Algarve region being hit by infernos blighting the continent.

One blaze on July 15 took hold near the exclusive Quinta do Lago area - where a string of celebrities, including pundit Alan Shearer and England manager Gareth Southgate - have homes.

Temperatures exceeded 40C in several European countries over recent weeks (REUTERS)

Shearer filmed as a fire gripped woodland near the home of Southgate.

The fire became so dangerous that hotels were evacuated by Portuguese authorities as it spread from woodland towards the town of Almancil.

Smoke rises from a wildfire in Venda do Pinheiro, Mafra, Portugal (REUTERS)

At the Magnolia Hotel, in Almancil, Brit couple George Fitch, 25, and Georgina Napier-Munn, 23, were evacuated for the second time on their holiday.

They arrived and were evacuated shortly after because of nearby wildfires.

Several regions were evacuated as the fires encroached on residential areas (AFP via Getty Images)

“We were in the shopping centre all day on Wednesday, there was so much smoke everywhere,” said Georgina.

George added: “We came back and relaxed yesterday for one day and got up early to go to the beach this morning and we had no idea this was going on.

“We’ve been evacuated again now, we just want to relax by the pool and enjoy the holiday. We’re off to an Irish bar now - what else can we do?”

David Walsh, 55, from Brentwood, Essex, checked in at the same hotel at 4pm - only to be told it had been evacuated.

Over 1,000 firefighters were sent across the country to douse the flames (REUTERS)

He was due to stay just one night at the Magnolia before switching hotels to join his three sons who were due to arrive the next day.

“I just arrived now to be told I can’t come in,” he said.

“I mean it’s just life isn’t it, there’s nothing I can do about it and it’s not the hotel’s fault - people need to be kept safe.”

Brits travelling to Portugal were warned to follow new measures put in place in large parts of the country.

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