Firefighters attempt to contain a wildfire in Portugal(Image: Getty)Shocking images have captured the terrifying moment a fire tornado violently erupted in Portugal, leaving a trail of devastation behind. Wildfires have been raging across various parts of Europe, as the continent is gripped by an intense heatwave that has seen temperatures rise above 40C.
Portugal’s northern region of Aguiar de Beira, increasingly popular with tourists each year, has been particularly hard hit. A fire tornado tore through the area, incinerating everything in its path and causing widespread destruction.
Fire tornadoes are rare phenomena that occur in extreme heat when the air surrounding a fire begins to rotate into a vortex.
Social media footage revealed the horrifying moment the rapidly moving spiral of flames struck.
The fire tornado can be seen spinning powerfully, emitting bursts of flames, while black smoke fills the air and the sky turns a fluorescent orange. Locals are seen running for cover to escape the spiralling vortex of fire and flames in scenes reminiscent of an apocalyptic event, reports the Express.
Nearly 4,000 firefighters have been dispatched by Portuguese authorities in an attempt to control and extinguish the rampant wildfires. The government has also extended its high-risk alert for at least another 24 hours until Sunday.
The death of the former town mayor of Vila Franca, Carlos Dâmaso, has been officially confirmed after his body was recovered on Friday. Tragically, Mr Dâmaso lost his life while assisting in putting out a fire that erupted in Pêra do Moço, in the municipality of Guarda.
The fie tornado rips through the area setting everything ablaze in its path(Image: Facebook/ Meteo Trás os Montes )The current parish council president, Sérgio Costa, confirmed his death to the “O Interior” media outlet and reported that two other individuals had also sustained serious injuries, with one being transferred to a hospital in Coimbra.
Despite his retirement, Mr Dâmaso remained active in local politics and was standing as an independent candidate for the parish council in the upcoming October elections.
Countries including Portugal, Spain, Greece, Cyprus, Turkey, Italy and Bulgaria are all still grappling with the devastating fires that have broken out this summer.
Britons have been warned about wildfires ripping through the popular holiday island of Tenerife in Spain.