The office of President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa sent condolences to the family of the fireman “who tragically lost his life after directly combating the forest fires in Sabugal municipality”, in the northeast of the country.

The firefighter, aged 45, was working for a private company battling blazes, media reported.

Portugal, with neighbouring Spain, has battled multiple wildfires over the past two months as heatwaves and dry conditions helped flames spread.

Four people have also been killed in Spain during the fire emergency there.

Improved weather conditions are helping firefighters in both countries to bring the blazes under control.

According to the European Forest Fires Information System, around 278,000 hectares (687,000 acres) have been charred in Portugal this year.

The Iberian Peninsula has been strongly affected by climate change, which has produced heatwaves and lengthy periods of drought, experts say.