More than 5,000 firefighters have been tackling wildfires that Portugal's Prime Minister has said are "raging across the country". Louis Montenegro named one firefighter who had died of "a sudden illness" while battling a blaze in Oliveira de Azeméis as João Silva.

People try to save homes set ablaze bywildfires in central and northern Portugal:::: Albergaria-a-Velha, PortugalThe Iberian country has asked the EU to send more fire-fighting planes as firefighters are still battling at least 15 blazes including one that burned houses on the outskirts of Albergaria-a-Velha.

At least two people died as wildfires raged in Portugal on Monday, forcing authorities to evacuate villages, close motorways and ask E.U. for help.

The EU will send eight firefighting planes to Portugal to help the country tackle blazes in its north that have injured 12 firefighters, two seriously. Several fires broke out in the Aveiro region over the weekend, which have forced about 70 residents to flee, the civil protection authority has said.

Portugal has requested more fire-fighting planes from the EU as 15 wildfires rage in central and northern regions. Over 800 firefighters are combating the fires, with several villages evacuated. Authorities have deployed eight water-bombing aircraft and requested eight more.

Portugal asked the EU to send it more fire-fighting planes on Monday as at least 15 blazes raged in central and northern regions, including one that burned houses on the outskirts of the town of Albergaria-a-Velha.

Almost 1,600 firefighters have been deployed to fight fires in 20 different areas on Monday, as the country battles with high temperatures and strong winds.