A forest fire in central Portugal killed 19 people and injured several others Saturday, most of them as they tried to escape the blaze in their cars, the government said.

"Nineteen deaths have been confirmed, all of civilians. Three of them died from smoke inhalation and 16 burned to death in their cars when they found themselves trapped by flames on the road from Figueiro dos Vinhos to Castanheira de Pera," secretary of state for the interior Jorge Gomes told journalists.