One person killed and four others injured in fires in Portugal

At least one firefighter was killed and four others were injured due to forest fires that broke out in several areas in Portugal. The Portuguese government stated that more than 1,600 firefighters have been deployed, while the coastal region of Aveiro in northern Portugal is witnessing the worst conditions, with three large fires and a number of small fires raging in the region. Plumes of smoke rose in the sky of the regional capital Aveiro and other towns in the region, and the government indicated that all the fires in Aveiro broke out yesterday evening, Sunday, and their causes are still unknown. The Portuguese Civil Protection Agency said that around 800 firefighters were sent to fight the three largest fires in Aveiro, Bergaria Velha, Olveira de Azmes and Sever do Fuga, supported by 250 vehicles and nine firefighting aircraft, and a number of highways and main roads were closed. The Agency added that support had been requested from other countries within the framework of the European Union's Civil Pro tection Mechanism. Source: National Iraqi News Agency