Odemira: 21-year-old young man suffers burns over 40% of his body

A 20-year-old young man has suffered serious injuries, with “first and second degree burns” over 40% of his body, while trying to save his grandfather’s van at Várzea das Pedras, in the municipality of Odemira.

The fire caused four injuries, one of them serious, in addition to a person who was assisted at the scene, revealed the operational commander of Beja District (CODIS) of Civil Protection, Carlos Pica, yesterday.

In a briefing to journalists the official explained that the 20-year-old, who suffered serious injuries on Wednesday, has “first and second degree burns” on 40% of the body.

Roberto Pereira was assisted by a crew of the National Institute of Medical Emergency (INEM) and transported to hospital.

There were three others slightly injured and “one person assisted”, added the commander of the relief operations, stressing: “These are the occurrences that we have in these fires, causing injuries and anger, and everything else.”

The Odemira fire, which broke out on Wednesday and was under control on Thursday by 18:40, has consumed an estimated area of ??1,100 hectares, in a perimeter of 20 kilometres, revealed the Civil Protection.

“The area [burned] that we identified has about 1,100 hectares, with an estimated perimeter of 20 kilometres,” José Guilherme Marcos, the 2nd regional commander of Emergency and Civil Protection of Alentejo, said this Thursday at a press conference to take stock of the fire.

According to the official, the competent authorities will investigate the final burned area, but, according to forecasts, “this fire had a potential for damage that could reach about 6,000 hectares.”

As of 12:15 on Friday 20th August, the Odemira fire is in conclusion with 376 personnel and 140 appliances in attendance.

Original article available in Portuguese at http://postal.pt/