A powerful fire rages near Lisbon.
The heat and strong winds make the fire extremely difficult to contain
A powerful fire is ravaging large areas not far from Lisbon, reports Reuters. Because of the heat and strong winds in the area, it is extremely difficult to control the flames.
A huge cloud of black smoke rose over the town of Venda do Pinheiro in Mafra, which is located 33 kilometers south of the Portuguese capital. The huge flames forced the authorities to close part of the roads to the settlement and to evacuate a home for the elderly. Many local residents have already left their homes, which are dangerously close to the fire.
On the territory of the whole country, several more fire elements are raging, in the suppression of which more than 1000 firefighters are involved. Portugal is experiencing an extreme heat wave, with temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius in places in recent weeks. The hot weather is expected to continue into early August, forecasters predicted.