Portugal

LISBON, Portugal (AP) — The European Union describes wildfires as “a serious and increasing threat” across the continent.

Most alarmingly, forest blazes are growing in intensity, especially in southern countries such as Greece, Spain, France, Italy and Portugal but also in Scandinavia.

Experts warn the continent needs to get ready for blazes that reach a massive new scale. These superfires, or mega-fires, are catastrophic events that kill and blacken broad areas and are hard to stop.

Here’s a look at Europe’s wildfire problem.

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21 July 2019; DW: Several firefighters have been injured while working to contain wildfires in central Portugal, with the blazes exacerbated by strong wind. Authorities have deployed a small army contingent to help combat the fires.

Portuguese authorities have used helicopters and planes to fight three blazes which were sparked Saturday in the country's central region. Over 700 firefighters have been deployed to the scene. Several of them were hurt, with one person sustaining serious injuries.

6 June 2019; AFP: Portugal manager Fernando Santos hailed Cristiano Ronaldo a "football genius" after his 53rd career hat-trick sent Portugal into the final of the Nations League on home soil in Porto with a 3-1 win over Switzerland.

The hosts had to withstand a huge moment of VAR controversy as after Ronaldo's free-kick opened the scoring, Portugal thought they had the chance to double their lead from the penalty spot.

24 May 2019; MEMO: An ex-Israeli soldier wanted in Colombia for heading a child prostitution ring and sex trafficking offences has been arrested in Portugal.

LISBON, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- Portugal's public debt rose by 400 million euros in November last year, compared to the previous month, reaching a new record of 251.48 billion euros, according to the data released by the Bank of Portugal on Wednesday.

The Portugal's central bank said that loans and debt emissions essentially contributed to the increase in the month.

LISBON, Portugal (AP) — While some powerful European Union governments are uneasy about China possibly taking more control of the bloc’s critical energy and transport infrastructure, one of western Europe’s smallest economies is grabbing the opportunity with both hands.