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Former Portuguese Mayor Dies Battling Raging Wildfires Across Europe
15 Aug
Summary
- Former mayor of Portuguese town dies fighting wildfires
- Thousands of firefighters battling blazes in Portugal, Spain, and Greece
- Heatwave pushing temperatures above 40°C, exacerbating fire risk
In a tragic turn of events, the former mayor of a Portuguese town has died while attempting to fight the raging wildfires that have been devastating parts of Europe, including Spain and Greece. As of 2025-08-16T00:26:53+00:00, the Portuguese president, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, has offered his heartfelt condolences to the family of Carlos Damaso, the victim who perished while battling the blaze in his parish.
The situation remains dire, with thousands of firefighters across Portugal, Spain, and Greece working tirelessly to contain the apocalyptic scenes unfolding. The fires have been fueled by a heatwave that has pushed temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) in many regions, creating an extreme fire risk. In response, the Portuguese government has invoked the EU's civil protection mechanism, requesting four firefighting aircraft to aid in the efforts.
The devastation has been widespread, with one harrowing image from the Sernancelhe district of Viseu, Portugal, showing a raging inferno and dark clouds of smoke threatening to engulf a house in flames. Authorities in the affected countries have extended states of alert, as the high temperatures and dry conditions are expected to persist through the weekend.
