The fatal victims are a 36-year-old firefighter and a 22-year-old firefighter who were part of the team of five firefighters who were following the vehicle that lost its way when heading towards a rural fire.

The Chamber of Vinhais has ordered three days of municipal mourning, and the lowering of the municipality's flag to half-staff.

In a note published on social media, the Chamber says: “in this moment of pain and deep sadness, the Municipal Council of Vinhais offers their most heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of the firefighters who died”.

The municipality also hopes a “quick recovery for the firefighters injured in the same accident”.

The Minister of Internal Affairs, Eduardo Cabrita, has already sent his condolences to the family of the two firefighters who were killed and a quick recovery to the three who were injured.

In a note of condolence issued by the Ministry of Internal Administration (MAI), Eduardo Cabrita addresses, “in his personal name and on behalf of the Government, his most heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, the Voluntary Firefighters of Vinhais, the Humanitarian Association of Firefighters of Vinhais and Firefighters of Portugal”, and hopes a quick recover for the injured victims.

The accident occurred around 6:00 pm when the fire team from the Vinhais corporation was heading towards a rural fire in the area of ​​Travanca, in this municipality of Trás-os-Montes.

According to information provided to Lusa News Agency by the commander of the District Relief Operations Center (CDOS), Noel Afonso, the fire-fighting vehicle, in which the five firefighters were following, “went off the road and ended up falling on a slope and overturned”.