Flames spread close to homes around Madeira's capital Funchal and 372 people were hospitalised, with two seriously injured. An elderly woman and at least two others have been killed in forest fires sweeping across Portugal. A thousand people have been evacuated from their homes and 372 hospitalised as fires hit the holiday hotspot of Funchal in Madeira. At least two are seriously hurt and 80 people remain in hospital. Local reports confirm the woman, who has not been named, died when her home caught fire near the centre of the city. A major blaze on the popular holiday island has destroyed at least six homes, a luxury five-star hotel and forced the evacuation of a thousand people. Flames spread close to homes around Funchal, which has a population of 111,000, encroaching on the suburbs and casting a smoke plume over the city centre. Eight firefighters in Madeira required medical treatment after inhaling smoke as high winds fuelled the blaze on the island off north-west Africa. Around 3,000 firefighters are trying to extinguish more than 500 forest fires across Portugal, using 23 water-dumping aircraft. The mainland's northern area has been worst hit, where the region's pine and eucalyptus forests are tinder-dry after a long spell without rain. Seven fires in the north have been classified as major blazes that are out of control. In the area around Viseu, which is 180 miles north of Lisbon, a wildfire forced the closure of a major motorway. Dramatic footage has emerged of the disaster, showing the sky still completely engulfed in thick, grey smoke and orange remnants of the forest blaze. A local woman caught up in the fire is seen being helped by emergency services as firefighters try desperately to put out the flames and hundreds flee their homes. Homeowners are seen desperately trying to quench fires with hosepipes as burning embers were swept along by strong winds. One holidaymaker, who shared a video on Facebook, said: "The worst [is] over now. On vacation but hoping for rain to stop this." British visitors to the island have also spoken out about the carnage on social media. Jackie Galbraith, vice principal at Ayrshire College in Scotalnd, was stranded at Funchal Airport for 32 hours. The airport was inundated with holidaymakers desperate to get home as scores of flights were delayed and tourists were forced to sleep on the floor. A University of Manchester student tweeted about being unable to leave Funchal Airport because of the forest fires, 30 hours after leaving Manchester Airport. Amy Knowles wrote: "Still can't get over the fact that I'm in Spain and we have to fly to Madeira again today in the hope that it's safe to land.
