Wildfires rage on in Portugal

LISBON – Water-dropping aircraft from Germany and Italy were set to arrive in Portugal yesterday as the fire-ravaged country struggled to contain the biggest wave of wildfires to hit it so far this year.

Over 2 700 firefighters were battling dozens of wildfires, including 27 which raced out of control across tinder-dry forests, mostly in the centre and north of the country, facing its worst drought since 1945. Two Canadair water-dropping planes from France and one from neighbouring Spain which arrived in the country on Sunday joined firefighters in their battle against the flames for the first time, the civil protection agency said.But the three helicopters expected from Germany and one water-dropping aircraft due from Italy would be deployed today because they will only arrive too close to sundown, the agency said.- Nampa-AFPTwo Canadair water-dropping planes from France and one from neighbouring Spain which arrived in the country on Sunday joined firefighters in their battle against the flames for the first time, the civil protection agency said.But the three helicopters expected from Germany and one water-dropping aircraft due from Italy would be deployed today because they will only arrive too close to sundown, the agency said.- Nampa-AFP