UN, France, others commiserate with Portugal as wildfires claimed 61 lives

The United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres on Sunday June 18, 2017 expressed his deep sadness and condolences to the Portuguese Government and people over the wildfires that claimed about 61 lives in the country.
Similarly, the government of Portugal has declared three days of mourning that ends on Tuesday for the 61 victims of one of the country’s deadliest forest fires. The fires incident began on Saturday during an intense heatwave and rainless thunderstorms, with temperatures of more than 40C (104F) in some areas. Police say lightning striking a tree may have caused the fire.
The UN scribe in a statement on Sunday said he spoke earlier today with the President of Portugal, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, and with the Prime Minister, António Costa, expressing his “deep sadness.”
According to news reports, the fast-moving wildfires ripped through the forested Pedrógão Grande central region of Portugal, some 150 kilometers (95 miles) northeast of Lisbon, leaving dozens dead and more injured.
“I wish a speedy recovery to the injured. At this time of loss, my thoughts and prayers are with the families and loved ones of the victims,” said Mr. Guterres.
The UN chief went on to commend the Government, firefighters, emergency responders and civil society organizations who are sparing no efforts to battle the wildfire and help people in need.
“The United Nations stands ready to assist in any way possible,” the Secretary-General concluded.
Four children are among the victims, many of whom were found dead inside their cars as they tried to flee the central forested region of Pedrógão Grande.
Hundreds of firefighters are continuing to tackle the blaze on several fronts.
Prime Minister Antonio Costa called it “the greatest tragedy we have seen in recent years in terms of forest fires”.
He said it was thought to have been sparked by a lightning strike.
Four firefighters are among the 54 people injured in the fire, which is raging in several parts of a mountainous area some 200km north-east of the capital Lisbon.
The wildfires spread fast on Saturday, and across several fronts.
There are fears the death toll could rise, as a number of people are still missing. The period of national mourning ends on Tuesday.
Emergency service workers were battling 156 fires across the country on Sunday, Prime Minister Costa said, adding that most of the victims had died in just one of them.
Secretary of State for the Interior Jorge Gomes said that most had died from smoke inhalation and burns, while two were killed in a road accident related to the fires.
Thirty bodies were found inside cars, with another 17 next to the vehicles, on one road leading on to the IC8 motorway.
More than 1,600 fire-fighters are fighting five of the main fires, supported by about 400 vehicles and 18 aircraft, Portugal’s Público reports.
According to the prime minister, just 11 fires are still active but he said the authorities were “particularly worried about two of them”.
France has offered three fire-fighting planes, while Spain has already sent two water-bombing aircraft to help tackle the fires. The European Union has also promised to provide firefighting aircraft.
Dozens of people who fled their homes have been taken in by residents of the nearby municipality of Ansiao.
Pope Francis, who visited Portugal last month, mentioned the victims in his weekly address: “I express my closeness to the beloved people of Portugal following the devastating fire.”
French President Emmanuel Macron tweeted: “Solidarity with Portugal, hit by terrible fires. Our thoughts are with victims. France makes its aid available to Portugal.”