At least three people died and more than 1,000 were evacuated on the Portuguese island of Madeira when forest fires, raging for a third day, spread to the regional capital and tourist destination, Funchal, authorities said on Wednesday (August 10).
Eyewitness video showed thick smoke billowing over houses on the island and drifting out over sea on Tuesday (August 9). The fire in Funchal was mostly under control, regional governor Miguel Albuquerque told a televised news conference, but several were still raging across the island.
Eighty people were in hospital suffering from burns and smoke inhalation, including two in a serious condition, Albuquerque said. All those killed and injured by the fires were local residents. One person was missing, he added.
Set off in a summer heatwave and fanned by strong winds, the fires have destroyed about 40 homes and a five-star hotel in the hills above Funchal.
On mainland Portugal, thousands of firefighters were still struggling to control hundreds of forest fires - mainly in the north - that have destroyed homes, shut major motorways for hours, and forced the evacuation of several villages this week.
