Authorities across southern Europe are battling to control the spread of huge wildfires in countries including Spain, Greece and France, with hundreds of deaths blamed on soaring temperatures. Some 360 heat-related fatalities had been reported in Spain up until Saturday, health officials reported.
Helicopters dropped water on the flames as heat above 40C (104F) and often mountainous terrain made the job harder for firefighters in Spain. Temperatures in the country have reached as high as 45.7C (114F). However, Spain's weather agency AEMET has said the heatwave would end on Monday, but warned temperatures would remain "abnormally high".
In France, wildfires have now spread over 27,000 acres in the southwestern region of Gironde, and more than 14,000 people have been evacuated, regional authorities said on Sunday afternoon. France issued red alerts, the highest possible, for several regions, with residents urged "to be extremely vigilant".
In Italy, where smaller fires have blazed in recent days, forecasters expect temperatures above 40C in several regions in coming days. Similar temperatures were recorded in Portugal on Sunday.
Around 1,000 firefighters tried to control 13 forest and rural fires in the centre and north of Portugal with temperatures exceeding 47C (117F). Portugal was grappling with extreme drought even before the recent heatwave, according to data from the national meteorological institute.
Some 96 per cent of the mainland was already suffering severe or extreme drought at the end of June. Emergency and Civil Protection Authority Commander Andre Fernandes urged people to take care not to ignite new fires in such bone-dry conditions.
In Greece the fire brigade said on Saturday 71 blazes had broken out within a 24-hour period.
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