Wildfires

Portugal wildfires kill dozens

Portugal, still recovering from its deadliest forest fire on record in June, bore the brunt of the latest death toll - 32, with the possibility of rising further, according to the authorities.

Authorities said they were still battling 145 blazes in Portugal while another 100 fires were raging in Spainish region Galicia.

The weekend's fires had also injured 56 people in Portugal, civil protection service spokeswoman Patricia Gaspar said. The toll could still increase as seven people were unaccounted for.

Northern California wildfires wipe out more than 180 homes

At least 100 homes were destroyed by a wildfire north of San Francisco in Lake County that raced through dry brush and exploded in size within hours, officials said. The devastation comes after a separate wildfire to the southeast destroyed at least 81 homes.

Residents fled from Middletown, dodging smoldering telephone poles, downed power lines and fallen trees as they drove through billowing smoke.