Portugal Asks EU for Assistance as Wildfire Reaches Residential Area

Fires Rage in Southern Portugal, Threatening Homes and Lives

Portugal has requested assistance from the European Union as a wildfire continues to rage in the southern part of the country.

The fire broke out on Saturday in the Monchique mountains in the Algarve region, and has since spread to cover an area of over 16,000 hectares.

According to the Portuguese Civil Protection Agency, the fire is now threatening residential areas, and several homes have already been destroyed.

The Portuguese government has declared a state of emergency in the Algarve region, and has deployed over 1,000 firefighters to battle the blaze.

The European Union has responded to Portugal's request for assistance, and has sent two firefighting planes to help fight the fire.

The fire is the worst to hit Portugal in over a decade, and comes at a time when the country is already facing a severe drought.

Here are some additional details about the wildfire in Portugal:

• The fire has already destroyed over 16,000 hectares of land.
• Several homes have been destroyed, and many more are threatened.
• Over 1,000 firefighters are battling the blaze.
• The European Union has sent two firefighting planes to help fight the fire.
• The fire is the worst to hit Portugal in over a decade.