Portugal forest fire death toll rises to 39

Firefighters work to put out a forest fire near Bouca, in central Portugal, June 18, 2017.[Photo/Agencies]

LISBON, Portugal - Portugal's interior minister said on Sunday that the death toll in the forest fires raging in the center of the country has increased to 39.

Interior Minister Jorge Gomes has been quoted as giving the new figure on public broadcaster RTP.

Government officials say many of victims died in their cars when flames swept over a road.

About 600 firefighters are fighting blazes that are raging in the Pedrogao Grande area about 150 kilometers (95 miles) northeast of Lisbon.

Prime Minister Antonio Costa called the fire "the biggest tragedy of human life that we have known in years."

Costa said that firefighting crews were having difficulties in approaching the area because the fire was "very intense." He added that Portuguese authorities were working on identifying the victims and that Spanish rescuers would assist in efforts to control the blazes.

Costa said that while investigations are ongoing to determine the cause of the fire, authorities believe that the high temperatures of 40 C (104 F) in recent days may have played a part.

Portugal, like most southern European countries, is prone to forest fires in the dry summer months.

AP