LISBON, Aug 22: Fire-fighting aircraft from Germany, Italy and the Netherlands headed to Portugal on Monday as the country struggled to contain the biggest wave of wildfires to hit so far this year amid rising temperatures.

More than 2,000 firefighters and 600 soldiers were battling dozens of wildfires, including 21 that raced out of control across tinder-dry forests and threatened some built-up areas, the civil protection agency said.

The fast-moving wildfires had already charred at least 12 homes on the outskirts of Coimbra, Portugal’s third largest city, and forced the evacuation overnight of some 60 people, local officials said.

Forecasters meanwhile predicted temperatures would soar above a scorching 35 degrees Celsius in some areas, raising the risk of new fires.

Two Canadair water-dropping planes from France and one from neighbouring Spain that arrived on Sunday joined in the battle against the flames for the first time, the civil protection agency said.

A water-dropping aircraft from Italy was due to join the efforts later on Monday but three helicopters from Germany, along with 25 anti-fire specialists, would likely not be deployed until Tuesday because they will arrive too close to sundown, it said.

Two fire-fighting helicopters sent by The Hague were also due to arrive on Tuesday, officials in the Dutch capital said.

Portugal appealed for help from its fellow European Union member states on Saturday after the number of blazes raging out of control in the country rose above 50, the highest single day tally so far this year.

But with much of southern Europe facing drought conditions some nations said they could not spare any firefighting equipment.

Greece’s firefighting force said on Monday it was busier than usual this summer and could not answer the call for help.—AFP