Speaking to the agency Lusa, a source from the Santarém District Relief Operations Command (CDOS), revealed that the accident occurred at kilometre 85 of the highway, at 11:36am

According to the Santarém CDOS, two of the five injured are military personnel from the GNR.

The CDOS source said that two victims had already been transported to Hospital de Santarém, while the other three remain in place to be stabilised by emergency teams.

By 12:45pm, traffic was circulating through the emergency lane, according to CDOS, adding that the total reopening of the highway would take time.