Three people have died in a scorching heat wave that is fuelling dozens of wildfires across parts of southern Europe, forcing thousands of people from their homes.
Red heat alerts have been issued in parts of Italy, France, Spain, Portugal and the Balkans, warning of significant risks to health as temperatures push above 40˚C.
Spain's weather service Aemet said temperatures could reach 44˚C in Seville and Cordoba, while southern Portugal could also hit 44˚C.
In Spain, an equestrian centre employee died after suffering severe burns in Tres Cantos, near Madrid, where winds over 70km/hr drove flames near homes, forcing hundreds to flee.
Pedro Sanchez, Spanish Prime Minister said that rescue services "are working tirelessly to extinguish the fires".
In Spain's north-western region of Castile and Leon, almost 4,000 people were evacuated and more than 30 blazes were reported.
Another 2,000 people were evacuated from hotels and homes near the tourist hotspot of Tarifa in the southern region of Andalusia.
Almost 1,000 soldiers were deployed to battle wildfires around the country.
More than 1,300 firefighters and 14 aircraft were deployed, with Morocco sending two planes after Portuguese water bombers broke down.
Red heat alerts were in place for at least 10 Italian cities, including Rome, Milan and Florence.
Almost three-quarters of France is under heat alerts, with temperatures forecast to top 36˚C in the Paris region and 40˚C in the Rhône Valley.
