国际英语资讯:Devastating forest fires in central Portugal under control

LISBON, Jun 21 -- The Portuguese Civil Protection Operational Commander Vitor Vaz Pinto said on Wednesday that the devastating forest fires which have been raging in Pedrogao Granda for five days have been brought under control.

He told reporters that the first phase of the firefighting has come to an end and the big fires are under control in the Pedrogao Granda area. Though the situation of fires remains complicated, they will try all means to consolidate what they have achieved and prevent the fires from reigniting.

The power supply has also been restored in the area, local media reported.

However, the fires in neighboring area of Gois are still blazing but they are expected to be brought under control soon due to the falling temperature, according to the Portuguese Lusa News Agency.

By 22:00 local time Wednesday, a total of 1,156 firefighters and 413 vehicles were involved in the firefighting in the Gois area, according to the Portuguese Civil Protection Authority.

The forest fires, the most devastating for more than 40 years in Portugal, have killed 64 people and injured 204 others.

One minute of silence was held in the whole country on Wednesday in memory of those killed in the fires. President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa and Prime Minister Antonio Costa attended a funeral of a young firefighter who died while battling the raging fire on Monday.

President of the Portuguese Firefighters Association Jaime Marta Soares on Wednesday challenged the police allegation that the deadly forest fires are caused by dry lightning on Saturday. He told local media that he believed arson is the origin of the fires as there were fire reports before the dry lightning struck the trees.

Portuguese Judiciary Police said they will conduct a thorough investigation over the cause of the fires.