Portuguese authorities have detained 14 suspected arsonists linked to deadly wildfires. These fires have claimed lives and devastated vast areas. Experts highlight rural neglect and economic motives behind the arson.

Portuguese police have arrested 14 suspected arsonists this week, who may have set some of the dozens of deadly wildfires raging across the country, contributing to the fire risks stemming from climate change and rural depopulation.

A state of calamity has been declared in Portugal after 100 wildfires left seven dead and endangered 210,000 people.

Nine aircraft were backing more than 700 firefighters combating flames near the town of Castro Daire in the district. Spain, Italy, France and Morocco have sent water-bombing aircraft. Data from the European Forest Fire Information Service showed that large-scale blazes had burned an area of more than 105,

More than 100 wildfires stretched thousands of firefighters to the limit in northern Portugal on Wednesday, with seven deaths since the worst spate of fires in recent years spread out of control over the weekend.

Thousands of firefighters continued their efforts to extinguish over 100 wildfires in northern Portugal on Wednesday.

On the day that a wildfire threatened his village in Portugal, Alexandre Santos was left on his own to try to save his livestock warehouse from the flames.