TEHRAN, June 20, YJC - Iran extended condolences with Portugal nation and government over the forest fire in Lisbon which claimed lives of dozens of people.
TEHRAN, Young Journalists Club (YJC) - Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qassemi offered condolences to families of the victim of the disaster.
The death toll from a forest fire in central Portugal has risen to 62. Most of the victims were locked in their cars and burnt to death while trying to flee. The blaze broke out in the central municipality of Pedrogao Grande late Saturday and quickly spread to nearby areas.
Most of the victims found their cars engulfed in flames sweeping across the roads.
Hundreds of firefighters and aircraft from Spain and France have been dispatched to tackle the fire that has been contained to a large extent.
Officials blame the wildfire on the lack of rain and scorching temperatures in recent days. Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa called the incident the greatest tragedy of human lives in Portugal.