At least 5,000 hectares of trees and vegetation has so far been destroyed by the blaze on the holiday island, with one of its three fronts still burning, local authorities said.

The fire began Wednesday in the rural Ribeira Brava area in the west of the Atlantic island before spreading, fanned by the winds and high temperatures, to the neighbouring Camara de Lobos and Ponta do Sol districts.

Some 160 people were evacuated from their homes yesterday as 200 firefighters attempted to tackle the blaze in difficult to access hilly terrain.

But Miguel Albuquerque, head of the regional government, told reporters that no one had been killed and “no homes or essential infrastructure has been destroyed”.

All those evacuated have since returned to their homes.

Leonel Silva, the mayor of Camara de Lobos, said the two fronts of the blaze in his district had been brought under control.

“The fire is practically out there,” he told the Lusa news agency.

The third front in Ponta do Sol is still ablaze, according to mayor Celia Pessegueiro, but no homes are under threat.

Portugal sent 76 firefighters from the mainland Saturday to reinforce brigades on the island, which is some 500km off Morocco.