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EU provides urgent assistance for Portugal's forest fires fight

Xinhua, August 11, 2016 Adjust font size:

The European Union (EU) has mobilized a firefighting plane, which is managed by Italy, in an immediate response to Portugal's request of assistance in stopping the spread of forest fires in several parts of the country, the EU said on Wednesday.

The move comes in addition to two planes deployed by Spain.

"The EU stands in solidarity with Portugal to help it fight fires in the country. We are in continuous contact with the national authorities of various participating states in the EU Civil Protection Mechanism to coordinate the response," an EU statement quoted Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management, Christos Stylianides, as saying.

Forest fires raged in the past days through parts of mainland Portugal and the Madeira island, forcing hundreds of people to leave their homes on Tuesday.

A forest fire in the Madeira island killed three people, the regional government revealed on Wednesday. Endit