LISBON, July 26 (Xinhua) -- Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa said Wednesday that he was pleased that the list of victims of the devastating forest fires last month had put to an end to the speculation over the death toll.

Costa said that this week has been "absolutely pitiful" in terms of speculation and political exploitation of the number of people killed in the forest fires erupted in Pedrogao Grande, some 200 km northeast of Lisbon on June 17.

"I am very pleased that the list has put an end to this speculation and confirmed what all the authorities had said for several weeks," he said.

Earlier on Wednesday, the Portuguese attorney general confirmed that 64 people were killed in the forest fires in Pedrogao Grande and a list of the names of the victims has been made public.

Portuguese government has been accused of hiding the truth, as speculations have put the death toll of the forest fire higher than 64.

The final casualties of 64 killed and some 250 injured have made the forest fires in Pedrogao Grande the worst tragedy in Portugal's history for decades. Enditem

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