EFIS said that the fire that began in Perna da Negra (Monchique) had so far consumed 21,305 hectares, half of the 41,000 that a fire destroyed in the same place in 2003.

The largest fire in terms of the area destroyed in Portugal this year until last week was in Guarda, in February, when 86 hectares went up in smoke.

Last year, flames destroyed 440,000 hectares, the country’s worst year ever the Portuguese national nature conservation institute told Lusa.

The Monchique has injured 32 people, one of them seriously and forced the evacuation of several villages and a hotel.