A 65-year-old man died last night after being run over by the land-clearing machine he was using to help combat the ongoing wildfire in the municipality of Mirandela (Brangança district).
Mayor Vítor Correia has told Observador that the death occurred when the victim was “caught by the machine he was operating, in the process of either getting into it, or exiting”.
The exact circumstances of this tragedy are under investigation.
As mayor Correia recalls, the man (working for a private company hired by Mirandela council) was creating a firebreak, with the objective of impeding the advance of flames. “He was doing an exceptional job, but then this accident happened”, said the mayor.
This is the third death reported so far since Portugal’s northern and central districts transformed into a galloping inferno. The funerals of the first victims, former parish council president Carlos Dâmaso, and Covilhã firefighter Daniel Agrelo took place yesterday.
The Mirandela fire broke out on Sunday, spreading to several villages in the municipality of Vila Flor. Shortly before 10am this morning, the blaze was still being fought by 325 firefighters, supported by 108 vehicles and two aircraft.
President Marcelo has already sent his condolences to the family, and to the wider Mirandela council, while the wider picture is still one of major concern, particularly around Oliveira do Hospital today where over 1,600 firefighters are still battling the blaze that has been going on for days, aided by 535 appliances and 13 firefighting aircraft.
To get a rapid bird’s eye view of the situation today, see fogos.pt
Source: Observador/ Lusa/ SIC
