Fire ripped through a community centre in northern Portugal, where dozens of people were watching a weekend football match. At least eight people were killed and injured many more, officials said on Sunday.
38 people were injured, including nine with severe burns on Saturday evening. They were taken to hospitals by helicopter in Porto and Lisbon.
One of the survivors, Júlio Dias told the daily Publico: “It happened very fast. The whole floor was in flames within five minutes. In the panic, a lot of people massed against the doors and it was impossible to open them.”
A few minutes later he said rescue workers forced open a door using ropes tied to an all-terrain vehicle.
Many of those inside had taken part in an amateur card tournament, playing Sueca and watching football.
The local mayor, José António Jesus, said the fire broke out due to the explosion of a wood-burning stove, which let off a “large quantity” of carbon monoxide. The Tondela fire service said the blaze was brought under control after an hour.
Portugal’s president, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, was expected to visit the scene. The area was hit by a series of deadly wildfires in October.
> Shiuly Akter