Wildfires in Europe and North Africa

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Countries around the Mediterranean region have been grappling with searing heat and devastating wildfires, exacerbated by temperatures exceeding 40C, and strong winds.

Image source, Pedro Nunes / Reuters

In Portugal, firefighters and volunteers have tackled fires sweeping across a natural park near the holiday destination of Cascais.

Image source, Manuel de Almeida / EPA

Fires have burnt in Sicily - and Palermo Airport was temporarily closed.

Image source, EPA
Image source, Ufficio Stampa Gesap via Reuters

In Algeria, 34 people have died in fires, with the coastal province of Bejaia, east of Algiers, worst affected.

People in the village of de Oeud Das have been surveying the damage to their homes (below).

Image source, Billel Bensalem / Getty Images

Fires on Rhodes have blazed for nearly a week, with the Greek islands of Corfu and Evia also reporting fires that remain out of control.

Image source, Spyros Bakalis / AFP

Firefighters and volunteers have been mobilised to control the fires on Rhodes, while aircraft have been used to tackle the flames.

Image source, Spyros Bakalis / AFP
Image source, Nicolas Economou / Reuters

Since the weekend, thousands of people have been evacuated from Rhodes.

Holidaymakers were forced to leave their hotels, some without luggage.

Image source, Anadolu Agency / Getty Images

Evacuees have been put into temporary accommodation at sports halls and conference centres.

Image source, Argiris Mantikos/Eurokinissi via Reuters

At airports, there were scenes of chaos and long queues, as tourists waited to be flown out.

Image source, Will Vassilopoulos / AFP

The fires have left large areas of Rhodes burnt and blackened and properties destroyed.

As the hot weather conditions continue, there is the ever-present danger that new fires will break out.

Image source, Angelos Tzortzinis / AFP

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