Fears for tourists as wildfires head to Algarve

More blazes feared in 46C heatwave

- ANDY LINES

FEARS are mounting for thousands of tourists set to fly to the Algarve after wildfires ripped across Portugal.

Hundreds of holidaymakers have already been evacuated in the country.

One of the biggest blazes has moved towards the Algarve where hundreds of Irish holidaymakers will land in the next fortnight.

Police said the area remains safe for now but officials fear fresh fires could break out as a 46C heatwave sweeps across Portugal and Spain.

The biggest of three major wildfires started on Saturday in Odemira, in the southern Alentejo region, but it moved rapidly towards the Algarve.

More than 1,400 people were evacuated from 19 villages, four resorts and a campsite, with dozens of roads cordoned off.

Most of the people told to leave were Portuguese tourists.

Local farmer Ana Costa said: “It was terrible, there were flames everywhere and we had to scramble.