LISBON, Ramadan 23, 1438, June 18, 2017, SPA -- A forest fire raging since Saturday in central Portugal has killed at least 57 people, a government official said on Sunday, in what is possibly the deadliest-ever single forest blaze in Portugal, according to Reuters. The death toll released by Jorge Gomes, the secretary of state for internal affairs, has gradually climbed from the 19 initially announced late on Saturday. Gomes said most of the victims were caught in their vehicles on the road. Another 59 people have been injured and taken to hospitals, including five in serious condition. The blaze on Saturday hit the mountainous area of Pedrogao Grande, 200 km northheast of Lisbon, amid an intense heat wave and rainless thunderstorms. Police said a lightning striking a tree probably caused the fire. Hundreds of firefighters were still battling the flames on Sunday morning. Various local motorways were shut for safety reasons. --SPA 14:30 LOCAL TIME 11:30 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/w430397