A burned car is seen in the aftermath of a forest fire near Pedrogao Grande, in central Portugal, June 18, 2017.[Photo/Agencies]

The "situation is unfortunately atypical ... " he said. "It was not possible to do more than what has been done" in prevention and the immediate response.

Television footage showed hundreds of local residents being treated for smoke intoxication in emergency services tents set up in the area. Many who lost their homes were transferred to temporary shelters.

Costa said that firefighting crews were having difficulties in approaching the area because the fire was "very intense." He added that Portuguese authorities were working on identifying the victims and that Spanish rescuers would assist in efforts to control the blazes.

Costa said that while investigations are ongoing to determine the cause of the fire, authorities believe that the high temperatures of 40 C (104 F) in recent days may have played a part.

"This is a region that has had fires because of its forests, but we cannot remember a tragedy of these proportions," said Valdemar Alves, mayor of Pedrogao Grande. "I am completely stunned by the number of deaths."Portugal, like most southern European countries, is prone to forest fires in the dry summer months.

The tragedy is the worst in recent memory in the southern European country, which often suffers wildfires during the hot and dry summer months.

AP and Reuters