Portugal remembers 66 victims from deadly year for wildfires

By: The Associated Press

Sunday, June 17, 2018 7:42 AM

LISBON, Portugal (AP) Portugal's president and prime minister have attended a Mass in a rural town to mark the anniversary of a wildfire that killed 66 people.

President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa and Prime Minister Antonio Costa joined other government members and scores of local people Sunday at a small church in Pedrogao Grande, which is located about 200 kilometers (120 miles) northeast of Lisbon.

A fire that began near the town of 4,000 people grew into one of Portugal's biggest blazes of 2017, an unprecedented year for deadly wildfires that brought 116 deaths.

At Pedrogao Grande, 47 people died in their cars as they fled the flames.

The president also was unveiling a memorial monument and meeting with survivors.

The Portuguese government says it is working to upgrade the country's firefighting capabilities.

Portugal remembers 66 victims from deadly year for wildfires

People leave a church, Sunday, June 17 2018, after attending a mass to mark the first anniversary of a wildfire that killed 66 people, in Pedrogao Grande, central Portugal. Sunday marks the one year anniversary since a blaze began near the town of Pedrogao Grande that grew into one of the biggest blazes of an unprecedented year of deadly wildfires that brought over 100 deaths. (AP Photo/Sergio Azenha)

The Associated Press

FILE - In this June 19 2017 file photo, burnt trees stand enveloped in smoke on the road leading to the village of Nodeirinho, near Pedrogao Grande, central Portugal. Wildfires killed 11 people in the small village. Sunday marks the one year anniversary since a blaze began near the town of Pedrogao Grande that grew into one of the biggest blazes of an unprecedented year of deadly wildfires that brought over 100 deaths. (AP Photo/Armando Franca, File)

The Associated Press

Burnt trees stand stand along the road leading to the village of Nodeirinho, near Pedrogao Grande, central Portugal, Sunday, June 17, 2018. Wildfires killed 11 people in the small village in 2017. Sunday marks the one year anniversary since a blaze began near the town of Pedrogao Grande that grew into one of the biggest blazes of an unprecedented year of deadly wildfires that brought over 100 deaths. (AP Photo/Sergio Azenha)

The Associated Press

FILE- In this June 18 2017 file photo, police investigators stand by a burnt car on the road between Castanheira de Pera and Figueiro dos Vinhos, near Pedrogao Grande, central Portugal. Sunday marks the one year anniversary since a blaze began near the town of Pedrogao Grande that grew into one of the biggest blazes of an unprecedented year of deadly wildfires that brought over 100 deaths. (AP Photo/Armando Franca, File)

The Associated Press

A car drives on the road between Castanheira de Pera and Figueiro dos Vinhos, near Pedrogao Grande, central Portugal, Sunday, June 17, 2018. Sunday marks the one year anniversary since a blaze began near the town of Pedrogao Grande that grew into one of the biggest blazes of an unprecedented year of deadly wildfires that brought over 100 deaths. (AP Photo/Sergio Azenha)

The Associated Press

A car drives past flowers placed by the road between Castanheira de Pera and Figueiro dos Vinhos, near Pedrogao Grande, central Portugal, Sunday, June 17 2018. Sunday marks the one year anniversary since a blaze began near the town of Pedrogao Grande that grew into one of the biggest blazes of an unprecedented year of deadly wildfires that brought over 100 deaths. (AP Photo/Sergio Azenha)

The Associated Press