Portugal declares three days of mourning for fire victims

In what seemed to be the worst fire attack in decades,about 61 people have been confirmed to have died in central Portugal.Most of the dead were found dead inside their cars as they tried escaping from the raging inferno in the region of Pedrógão Grande.


The government of Portugal has however declared Sunday,Monday and Tuesday as days set aside for the entire country to mourn the victims.

According to reports,two firefighters are said to be missing while four others are in critical condition in the hospital and about four children are among those that died.

The fire which is still raging,is said to have started on Saturday night with temperature rising to 38 degree celsius.The fire outbreak is the worst in decades,in 1966 about 25 soldiers were killed in similar forest blaze in Sintra near Lisbon.

France has offered assistance by sending three fire fighting planes while Spain sent two water bombing aircraft to the area to stop the raging wild fire.

''Solidarity with Portugal hit by terrible fires.Our thoughts are with victims.France makes its aid available to Portugal.''-President Emmanuel Macron.