What at first seemed like an accidental gas explosion in a seventh floor apartment in Portimão yesterday, has turned into a criminal investigation after a woman today was arrested and charged with arson.The explosion and fire happened in a block of apartments in Rua 25 de Abril. Local fire fighters rushed to the scene to prevent the blaze spreading to other apartments and extinguished the fire in about 20 minutes.
The building was evacuated and an immobile 78-year-old Ukrainian woman had to be rescued from the sixth floor and was treated for smoke inhalation.
The Judicial Police spotted that the fire was deliberate and today arrested Ancha Martins, a 38-year-old woman from Mozambique, on suspicion of pouring around ten litres of petrol over the interior of the apartment and setting light to it. The ensuing explosion blew the windows out into the street below, damaging a car.
Martins was renting the apartment but was in the process of being evicted. This, alleged the police, was her revenge.
The 38-year-old will be heard by a judge, who will determine if she is a further danger to herself or the public.
Ancha Martins, later charged with Arson
