A number of tourist hotspots in Greece have been deemed 'high risk' as wildfires ravage several countries in Europe, while a heatwave sends temperatures soaring to 40C

A rapidly spreading wildfire near Patras, western Greece’s third-largest city, is posing a significant threat to infrastructure and homes as intense heat accompanied by strong winds ignites the fire across southern Europe.

Firefighters have spent days battling blazes in Greece, Portugal, Spain and elsewhere. Forecasters said temperatures could pass 111 degrees in some places on Thursday.

Greek officials have evacuated tourists and locals after an intense drought and strong winds helped the spread of massive fires in picturesque Ionian islands

Thousands were evacuated from areas of popular holiday islands in Greece on Wednesday as firefighters battled wildfires across the country.

Southern Europe reeled Thursday under an unrelenting heatwave that has stoked deadly wildfires from Spain to Greece, torching vast swaths of land,

The chances of reaching dangerous temperatures are only growing as the planet keeps warming up because of climate change, scientists warn.

Wildfires caused by arsonists or thunderstorms and fanned by a heatwave and strong winds wreaked destruction across southern Europe on Wednesday (Aug 13), burning homes and forcing thousands of residents and tourists to flee.

A blaze has reportedly killed 26 horses in their stables, alongside a 55-year-old man who died trying to save them, as wildfires continue to devastate southern Europe. The man suffered burns to 98 per cent of his body in the fire north of Madrid, and died in hospital after being flown there by helicopter, the Guardian reported.