Two Emergency Ministry Be-200ChS jets continue suppressing major wildfires in Portugal.

Yesterday they put out two 500-ha fires. Over the past the amphibious plane carried out two flights and dropped 204 tons of water in 17 rounds.

The Russian pilots helped to prevent the spread of the fire to two settlements: Castro Laboreiro populated by 1,000 people and Viande de Baixo with 15 farms and the national park of Peneda Geres.

In all, the two Be-200ChS planes have made 34 rounds dropping 408 tons of water over the period of operation in Portugal.

There are now over 260 wildfires ravaging the island of Madeira and the mainland of Portugal. According to the Directorate-General for European Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection more than 300 people have been injured in fires, while more than a thousand local people and tourists have been evacuated. The fires damaged over 200 buildings, including several hotels. The estimated economic losses are 55 million euros.

The Russian Ministry for Emergency Situations sent the two planes were sent to Portugal following the instructions of the Russian Government and request of Portugal. They are flown by the most experienced pilots who have suppressed wildfires under most complex conditions.