Portugal forest fires kill 43 near Coimbra

[Gerald]

A catastrophic forest fire in Portugal has claimed at least 43 lives, officials say.
Many died while trying to flee the Pedrógão Grande area, 50 km (30 miles) south-east of Coimbra, in their cars, according to the government.
Several firefighters are among the 59 people injured.
"Unfortunately this seems to be the greatest tragedy we have seen in recent years in terms of forest fires," said Prime Minister Antonio Costa.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-40316934

The whole of Europe seems to burn.

[Rhodes]

Yep, every year is the same feces (pardon for the word,but it is what's best to describe). If a heat wave or just rising temperatures to the normal degrees of the season, fires just begin. Some abruptly others not. A few by natural causes and others by criminal hand, unfortunately.
But this situation... this time, it just turned ugly. Hopefully, it can be a wake up call to resolve the forests situations in the country and get something done.

[Eichhörnchen]

I said to Moira earlier today that I was wondering if 'Rhodes' was OK, but that you probably (from your photography) live near the coast. Stay safe, buddy

[Schroeder]

Horrible events there.
At least it wasn't arson as it is so often the case.

[Rhodes]

Originally Posted by Eichhörnchen

I said to Moira earlier today that I was wondering if 'Rhodes' was OK, but that you probably (from your photography) live near the coast. Stay safe, buddy

Yep, but we already had similar situations here, My town has hills/mountain +/- 3km North (but it is in the city area) and it already burned all twice, once in 1993 and the other in 2005, fortunately, there were no victims.

Originally Posted by Schroeder

Horrible events there.
At least it wasn't arson as it is so often the case.

Even so, this could not and should not happen! 63 death and 135 hounded is the last count.

[Jimbuna]

Can't even begin to imagine what it must have been like. trapped in a car with no escape route