Three dead, thousands evacuated in wildfires on Portuguese island
At least three people have been killed and more than a thousand others evacuated due to wildfires on Portugal’s Madeira island, officials say.
Regional Madeira Government President Miguel Albuquerque told reporters that the three victims, including an elderly woman, died in their homes that had caught fire.
Two other people were seriously hurt, while one person is missing and more than 300 people require medical treatment for smoke inhalation and minor burns, the official added.
All those killed and injured by the fires were local residents.
Forest fires have hit Funchal, the capital of the island, burning several homes and buildings, including a five-star hotel, and forcing people to flee in panic.
Fires, fanned by strong winds, have burned for two days on the holiday island in a summer heatwave.
Firefighters said the island's steep hills and dense woodland made it hard to reach the flames.
More than a thousand residents and tourists were sent to makeshift shelters and army barracks during the night. Two hospitals in the area were also evacuated.
Smoke has disrupted flights at the airport in Funchal, and reinforcements, including firefighters and doctors, are arriving later Wednesday from the Portuguese mainland.
Officials suspect the fires were started deliberately, and police have made two arrests.
Madeira attracts more than a million visitors a year as tourism is the mainstay of its economy.
Wildfires have also affected the Portuguese mainland in recent days as temperatures continue to climb.
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