Firefighters battle blazes in Portugal

FIREFIGHTERS returned to parched, sweltering forests yesterday to tackle huge wildfires that were racing out of control in Portugal for a second straight day.

Authorities said 22 major blazes were raging at daybreak.

Some 2,900 firefighters, supported by about 900 vehicles, were on duty, but most water-dropping aircraft stayed on the ground due to low visibility caused by massive clouds of smoke, the Civil Protection Service said.