Portugal declared three days of mourning, starting on Sunday, due to the forest fires raging in the country since Saturday.

According to the latest data, these fires have claimed 62 lives, reported Agence France-Presse (AFP) news agency.

“Unfortunately, this seems to be the greatest tragedy we have seen in recent years in terms of forest fires,” said Prime Minister António Costa, who declared three days of mourning. “The number of fatalities could still rise.”  

At present, about 50 people are hospitalized as a result of these forest fires.