NEW DELHI: Massive wildfires continue to rage across southern Europe, with Spain and France battling some of the worst blazes of the summer as extreme heat, dry conditions and strong winds fuel the rapid spread of flames. Authorities have placed several regions on high alert, warning that the wildfire threat is expected to remain severe in the coming days.

Hundreds of thousands of residents have been evacuated from vulnerable areas as advancing fires threaten homes, forests and critical infrastructure. Firefighters, supported by water-bombing aircraft and emergency response teams, are working around the clock to contain multiple fire fronts amid challenging weather conditions.

Officials have urged residents to follow evacuation orders and avoid high-risk areas, while meteorological agencies forecast continued high temperatures and gusty winds that could hamper firefighting efforts. The prolonged heatwave has also raised concerns over worsening drought conditions and the increasing impact of climate change on Europe's wildfire season.

Authorities in both Spain and France have described the next few days as critical, with emergency services on standby to respond to any further flare-ups as the region grapples with one of its most destructive wildfire outbreaks in recent years.