High temperatures and strong winds have fanned deadly wildfires which have spread across large parts of western Europe.

Hundreds of people have been killed and thousands have had to evacuate their homes as firefighters battle to control the blazes.

Here we take a look at the countries affected by the fires and some of the most striking images that have emerged.

Portugal

Temperatures have dipped a little in Portugal but they were still expected to top 40C in some places on Friday, with five districts on red alert and more than 1,000 firefighters tackling 17 wildfires.

Portuguese Health Minister Marta Temido said on Thursday the health system faced a “particularly worrying” week due to the heatwave and said some hospitals were overwhelmed.

From 7 July to 13 July, Portugal registered 238 excess deaths due to the heatwave, the country’s DGS health authority said.

Spain

A new wildfire broke out in the south of Spain on Friday after blazes swept across parts of the west of the country this week.

More than 400 people were evacuated from the hills of Mijas, a town popular with northern European tourists in the province of Malaga.

Spain registered 84 excess deaths attributable to extreme temperatures in the first three days of the heatwave, according to the National Epidemiology Centre’s database.

France

More than 1,000 firefighters, supported by water-bomber aircraft, have battled since Tuesday to control two blazes in southwestern France that have been fanned by scorching heat, tinder-box conditions and strong winds.

In the Gironde region, 11,300 people have been evacuated since the wildfires broke out around Dune du Pilat and Landiras.

Some 7,350 hectares (18,000 acres) of land have been burnt.

Authorities said the fires had not yet been stabilised.

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