Wildfire tamed in southern Portugal, but authorities stay on alert

FILE PHOTO: People watch a wildfire in Aljezur, Portugal, August 7, 2023. REUTERS/Pedro Nunes/File Photo

LISBON (Reuters) - A huge blaze that erupted over the weekend, razing thousands of hectares of forest in southern Portugal, is now under control though authorities said firefighters would remain on the ground as a precaution in case of flareups.

Vitor Vaz Pinto, regional commander of the emergency and civil protection authority (ANEPC), said on Wednesday the wildfire in the municipality of Odemira, in the Alentejo region, was brought under control at 10.15 a.m. local time (0915 GMT).