61 Die in Portugal Forest Fire

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A massive forest fire in central Portugal has killed at least 61 people, many of them burned to death in their cars. At least 59 people are reported to have been injured in the fire that erupted amid an intense heat wave and rainless thunderstorms.

Prime Minister Antonio Costa declared three days of national mourning, starting Sunday.

"Unfortunately, this seems to be the greatest tragedy we have seen in recent years in terms of forest fires," he said. "The priority now is to save those people who could still be in danger."

Costa said the death toll was lowered from the previously reported 62 victims because one person had been counted twice. However, he added that "there's no point in feeling joyful for that, because surely we will find more victims as we progress.'' Police are searching charred areas of the forest and isolated homes for more bodies.