Interior Minister Antonio Figueiredo said Portugal hoped European countries could lend aircraft to help the more than 600 firefighters struggling to contain the blazes amid a heatwave across the country.

"It is one of the most serious catastrophes in the past 20 years," said the minister.

He said the situation had deteriorated overnight around three towns north and east of Lisbon, including Castelo Branco, Santarem and Portalegre, where more than 1,600 firefighters were battling flames with the help of 400 troops.

TERRA.WIRE