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Fires spread to Portugal reserve:
Dozens evacuated
PORTUGAL: Portuguese rescue workers evacuated some 100 people
from the Peneda-Geres National Park Thursday as wildfires in the north
of the country intensified despite non-stop efforts by more than a
thousand firefighters.
Interior Minister Rui Pereira told a news briefing the situation in
the arid northern woodlands “is comparable to a true theatre of war”.
He also praised firefighters for their bravery after two died and
several were badly injured in forest fires this week.
He said the Government had activated the European Union’s Civil
Protection Mechanism to get additional firefighting equipment and was
doing all in its power to prevent wildfires from spreading further.
Scorching heat and winds were “particularly adverse” this year, he
said.
In total, fire brigades were combating more than 30 fires in Portugal
on Thursday afternoon.
LISBON, Friday, Reuters
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