Daily number of forest fires hits record high in Portugal

Portugal has seen the most of the forest fires in a single day of this year on Saturday with 297 fire breakouts across the country, according to the National Civil Protection Authority (ANPC).

More than 70 fires broke out at three o'clock on Saturday in several locations in the north and central part of the country, with the emergency plan activated in Coimbra, some 200 km north of Lisbon.

ANPC spokeswoman Patricia Gaspar said that Saturday can beat Friday when 220 forest fires erupted in the country, a record high in a single day of this year.

In the city of Tomar, some 140 km north of Lisbon, more than 200 people in a farm have been evacuated as well as inhabitants in several houses under threat of flames.

According to ANPC, more than 4000 firefighters participated in combating flames across the country. Nearly 600 military personnel and 116 vehicles are also assisting in fighting fires.

High temperatures have brought back forest fires in the north and central party of Portugal since Wednesday.

The country suffered its worst forest fires in four decades on June 17 when the huge fires in Pedrogao Grande, some 200 km north of Lisbon, claimed 64 lives, injuring more than 250 others.