Smothering engulfs skyscraper in central Portugal

MADRID: Smoke from a huge wildfire in central Portugal enveloped skyscrapers, known as the Four Towers in Madrid 400 km away on Tuesday, and residents of the Spanish capital complained of a strong burning smell.

The fire, which has ravaged Portugal's Serra da Estrela national park, started on August 6 and had been largely put out as of Sunday, but has reignited again on Monday, leading to the evacuation of several villages.

More than 1,100 firefighters backed by 13 waterbombing aircraft were tackling the blaze, which has already torched more than 17,000 hectares.

Civil Protection Commander Andre Fernandes said that the fire had several fronts, making it difficult to fight despite the windy, dry weather.

The NASA Worldview satellite images show the plume of smoke that extends from the west of the Iberian peninsula to its eastern half and beyond Madrid, where emergency services had to explain to residents that there was no fire nearby.