Belfast restaurateur Michael Deane was one of hundreds of holidaymakers forced to flee their Portuguese properties because of the raging bushfires that have engulfed the country this week.
At least 120 people need medical treatment as a result of the disaster caused by extreme temperatures that have reached 43C.
The Michelin-starred chef has been on holiday in the Faro region of the Algarve with his wife, former broadcaster Kate Smith.
“Our apartment is very close to where some of the fires are,” he explained.
“We saw a lot of smoke and heard people shouting, ‘Go away, go away!’
“So we decided to leave.”
Chef Michael Deane and his wife Kate Smith
The couple fled to a hotel, not knowing if their apartment would still be there when they returned.
“There are a lot of people here from Northern Ireland who own their properties,” Michael said.
“It’s a great place with a beautiful golf course and great beaches.
“We’re doing well now, but it’s very scary.
“Wednesday was a nightmare just watching the hopes and dreams of people going up in flames.
“This is a beautiful area and we have a lot of friends here, so it was hard to watch.”
When the couple returned on Thursday, they were relieved that the property was intact – although it was covered in thick black ash and badly damaged by smoke.
“It’s going to be a clean-up job,” he said.
“But it seems to have settled down a bit.
“There is a lot of scorched earth around us. There are still helicopters in the air and many firefighters on the ground – but as far as we know it is safe for now.”
Much of the country is experiencing drought, turning vegetation into kindling fueling the fires.
Evacuations have been ordered in many parts as emergency services struggle to contain the flames.
Earlier this week, a major highway was closed and key festivals were moved to cooler locations.
Portugal’s prime minister has already warned that things are likely to get worse as temperatures rise towards 46C in some places.
On Thursday night, Michael enjoyed a serene sunset with his wife as they struggled to contain the devastation that had unfolded around them in moments.
“It was horrible,” Deane said.
“We’ve just watched the sun go down, but who knows what tomorrow will bring. Fortunately no one died.”