Two firefighters killed in Portugal forest blazes

LISBON Aug 10 (Reuters) - Portuguese firefighters were struggling on Tuesday to control some 50 forest blazes in which at least two of their colleagues have been killed.

Many districts in the country's arid northern woodlands have raised the threat level from scorching summer temperatures to the highest possible on Tuesday. Hundreds of troops were deployed to help the fire brigades.

Civil protection officials said a female firefighter died, one fireman was badly burned and their team had to be evacuated on Tuesday when they found themselves surrounded by flames after a sudden change in the direction of the wind in Gondomar region.

On Monday, a fireman was killed and another seriously injured when their truck fell into a burning ravine in the mountaineous Sao Pedro do Sul area, where the blaze was only put out on Tuesday after a four-day effort by hundreds of firemen.

The area of the forest destroyed by wildfires so far lags last year, which was a four-year record. (Reporting by Andrei Khalip)

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