By Miguel Pereira and Pedro Nunes VIZEU DISTRICT, Portugal (Reuters) -Firefighters tackling deadly wildfires in central and northern Portugal had doused the flames in the Aveiro district, one of the worst-hit,

Thousands of firefighters have largely contained deadly wildfires in Portugal’s Aveiro district after five days of destruction. The flames have engulfed tens of thousands of hectares, destroyed homes,

LISBON: Wildfires in Portugal's Aveiro district have claimed two lives and prompted the mobilisation of over 1,200 firefighters.

Thousands of firefighters tackling deadly wildfires in central and northern Portugal had largely doused the flames in the Aveiro district, one of the worst-hit, as of Thursday morning, and were focusing on a dozen blazes still raging elsewhere.

More than 100 wildfires stretched thousands of firefighters to the limit in northern Portugal on Wednesday, with seven deaths since the worst spate of fires in recent years spread out of control over the weekend.

At least seven people have died after wildfires in the Aveiro and Viseu areas of Portugal, although cooler weather has helped tackle the flames. Dozens of homes have been destroyed and tens of thousands of hectares of forest and scrubland have been lost to the flames.

Portuguese police have arrested 14 suspected arsonists this week, who may have set some of the dozens of deadly wildfires raging across the country, contributing to the fire risks stemming from climate change and rural depopulation.

Three firefighters died battling the blazes, Portugal’s prime minister said, adding the country was going through “difficult days.”

Thousands of firefighters continued their efforts to extinguish over 100 wildfires in northern Portugal on Wednesday.