The National Road 266 between Monchique and Portimão in the Algarve reopened to traffic at 4:34 PM, following a car accident that resulted in the deaths of five occupants, according to the Civil Protection authorities.
The road had been impassable since 12:46 PM today, when the accident caused a fire to spread in the surrounding forest, which was brought under control by 2:30 PM, as per the Algarve Sub-regional Command of Civil Protection.
The victims, who were found burned, were pronounced dead by the doctor from the National Institute of Medical Emergency (INEM) who arrived at the scene by the Carrasqueira stream in Pocilgais, in the municipality of Monchique.
The Civil Protection confirmed that 101 operatives were involved in resolving the incident, including firefighters, the National Republican Guard (GNR), the Institute for Nature Conservation and Forests (ICNF), and INEM.
The Civil Protection sources also stated that personnel conducted investigations, removed the bodies, and cleaned the road.
