Eight people have died in a fire at a community centre in northern Portugal where dozens of people were watching a football match.

Officials said 38 people were injured in the blaze in the village of Vila Nova da Rainha, near Tondela, on Saturday evening. Nine people with severe burns were taken by helicopter to hospitals in Porto and Lisbon.

One of the survivors, Júlio Dias told the daily Publico: “It happened very fast. The whole floor was in flames within five minutes. In the panic, a lot of people massed against the doors and it was impossible to open them.”

He said a few minutes later rescue workers forced open a door using ropes tied to an all-terrain vehicle.

Many of those inside had been taking part in an amateur card tournament and watching football.

The local mayor, José António Jesus, said the fire was caused by the explosion of a wood-burning stove, which let off a “large quantity” of carbon monoxide. The Tondela fire service said the blaze was brought under control after an hour.

Portugal’s president, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, was expected tovisit the scene. The area was hit by a series of deadly wildfires in October.