LISBON, Portugal �� At least 61 people were killed by a forest fire in northern Portugal, with many of the victims dying on the road as they tried to flee, authorities said.
The victims were found in cars, outside their vehicles and in rural areas, Secretary of State for Internal Administration Jorge Gomes said.
About 700 firefighters worked to put out the fire, which broke out Saturday. A cloud of smoke complicated their work, The European Commission said Sunday that France and Spain have sent firefighting aircraft.
Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa went to the scene after midnight and said there was no lack of immediate response to face the blaze. Minister of Internal Administration Constanca Urbano de Sousa was also in Pedrogao and said that "when this ends" an assessment will be made about what happened, according to RTP.
"It's the greatest tragedy of human lives that we've seen with forest fires in Portugal in the last few years," Prime Minister Antonio Costa said. His Socialist Party canceled all activities.
