Emergency services are under strain due to the ‘worst’ fires in Portugal in years, Al Jazeera’s Sonia Gallego says.

The Covilha wildfire, now the country's most resource-intensive fire, has spread to Fundao and Silvares. Authorities have warned residents of multiple villages to seek safety as flames threaten homes,

Portugal suffered its first death Friday from the fires raging there, as Spain's weather agency warned of a "very high to extreme risk" of more wildfires there during Europe's intense heatwave. The risk of fires on Friday and over the weekend through to Monday was "very high or extreme in most of the country",

LISBON: The fires raging across Portugal claimed their first victim Friday (Aug 15), when the former mayor of the eastern town of Guarda died fighting fires there, President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa announced.

THIS is the horrifying moment a fire tornado violently erupts in Portugal killing a mayor in its blaze. It comes as hundreds of dangerous and deadly wildfires have plagued Europe in recent weeks

A heatwave is continuing to affect the Iberian Peninsula. Thousands of firefighters have been deployed to battle ongoing blazes and towns have been evacuated. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez visited affected regions to meet with the heads of emergency teams.

Portugal is battling five major wildfires as of August 19, with more than 2,700 firefighters, 902 ground resources, and at least 35 aircraft deployed.

Morocco faces its own wildfire challenges in Chefchaouen province, specifically affecting large forest areas of Dardara and Bab Taza. Authorities initially declared the blaze fully contained, but reported yesterday that it had reignited in some areas, urging residents to remain cautious.

This year is turning into one of the worst fire seasons in recent memory in Europe. Firefighters are struggling to contain out-of-control wildfires in western Spain and Portugal.

A fire in the municipality of Trancoso has threatened to engulf homes as Portugal struggles to contain a worsening wildfire season.

More than 343,000 hectares of land – the equivalent of nearly half a million football pitches – destroyed this year in Spain, in new record.