Aires Silva watched as the flames of a wildfire approached his childhood home in Alto da Louriceira, Portugal.
The 63-year-old had lived there for the first 25 years of his life.
Portugal has been hit by one of the deadliest wildfires in the country’s history.
“Other years north Portugal was a misery, but since 1991 until now it was safe, we had a marvellous forest here for around twenty years, now we will lose everything, that side is all burned, Graca, Vila Facaia, Louriceira, Ouzenda, the only part that wasn’t burned was this part of the valley here, but now it’s burning too, the entire region will burn,” said Silva.
Though Silva no longer lives at his childhood home, it is painful to see it doomed to a fate of burning to the ground.
More than 1,000 members of the fire brigade have been on the scene in central Portugal.
The fire has claimed 64 lives so far, including one firefighter who died from his injuries.
Over 70 people, including 13 firefighters, were taken to hospital on June 19.
Prime Minister António Costa visited the affected area on June 18. He called it the biggest human tragedy in Portugal in living memory.
