The family were travelling north from the Algarve towards Mourao in the district of Evora near the Spanish border (Picture: Solarpix)
Four members of the same British family were among six people killed in a head-on crash in Portugal last night.
The father, 55, mother, 51, and 20-year-old twin sons all died when their rented Nissan Juke collided with another vehicle on the IP2 main road in Castro Verde.
The horror crash came within hours of them hiring it at Faro Airport at the beginning of their holiday.
One of the siblings’ 19-year-old girlfriend also died in the crash, as did 26-year-old Ruben Goncalves who was driving the other car.
Pictures from the scene showed the mangled wreckage of one of the two vehicles on the wrong side of a crash in a field where a fire took hold after the collision.
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A source close to the investigation said the family were identified after their daughter called the police after hearing about the crash to say she could not contact any of them.
They said: ‘The car was such a wreck officers could only recover half a number plate and with that began working on trying to establish the identity.
‘Today a daughter of the couple killed alongside their twin sons, worried because she had heard about the crash in Portugal and was concerned because she couldn’t contact her loved ones, rang the police to speak about her fears it was her family involved.
‘With the information she gave them officers made checks with the hire car firm at Faro Airport and tragically discovered a match.
‘That was how they were able to confirm the identities of the five occupants in the car with the four members of the same family inside.’
Town hall officials in Mourao have declared two days of mourning starting from tomorrow (Picture: Getty Images)
Shocked locals took to social media today to express their shock and upset at what had happened.
Tania Marques Da Cruz said: ‘My most sincere condolences to all those killed. I hope their souls rest in peace.
‘It’s so sad to hear of people leaving their homeland and friends in search of a better life and then have their lives end like this. How unfair life is.’
Cesar Caleiro wrote on Facebook: ‘My sincere condolences to the loved ones of those killed.
‘Mourao must rally round to comfort the families of the victims.’
The circumstances surrounding the fatal accident were today being investigated by the GNR police force.
Town hall officials in Mourao have declared two days of mourning starting from tomorrow.
A spokesman said: ‘The Municipal Council of Mourao has decreed two days of municipal mourning, effective from tomorrow, Sunday, following the death of five family members involved in a traffic accident last night on the IP2, near Castro Verde.
‘The Municipality, in coordination with the family and law enforcement authorities, namely the local GNR Post in Castro Verde, obtained the number plate of the vehicle they were travelling in and confirmed the identity of the passengers at 3.35pm today.
‘There were four occupants in the car, all from Mourao, and a young woman with ties to the family.
‘Residents of England, they were traveling from Faro to Mourao for their usual and well-deserved vacation.
‘It is with great sadness that the Municipality announces this information, offering its condolences to the families and friends of the victims.
‘We inform you that all activities and events promoted by the Municipality are cancelled for the entire weekend.’
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