Madeira battles wildfire for fifth day

Smoke rises as a wildfire burns at Curral das Freiras, Madeira, Portugal August 17, 2024, in this screen grab obtained from a social media video. netmadeira.com/via REUTERS/File Photo

LISBON (Reuters) - Firefighters backed by 40 vehicles and a helicopter struggled to contain a wildfire on Monday on the southern coast of Portugal's island of Madeira that has burnt through more than 3,000 hectares (7,410 acres) of forest over the past five days.

The blaze, which started on Wednesday in the rural area of Ribeira Brava, has since spread to the neighbouring municipality of Camara de Lobos to the east and was burning close to a popular beach area of Ponta do Sol, to the west.