3 dead, hundreds injured in Madeira wildfires

At least three people were dead and hundreds injured when a wildfire spread overnight into Funchal — the capital of the Portuguese islands of Madeira — authorities said Wednesday.

More than a thousand people were evacuated, many spending the night in shelters and army bases, and about 40 homes and a five-star hotel were destroyed as the fires raged for a third day, Reuters reported.

The blazes were fueled by high summer temperatures and strong winds.

Regional governor Miguel Albuquerque told a news conference that three victims died in their burned homes early Wednesday. He said the fire in Fuchal was largely under control, but others were raging elsewhere on the island, which lies off northwestern Africa and is popular with tourists.

He said more than 300 people needed medical treatment for smoke inhalation and minor burns and 80 were still in hospital, two of them in a serious condition.