Record heat across Europe has fueled fierce wildfires that have forced thousands of residents to evacuate. Temperatures reached well above 40 degrees Celsius in some areas on Wednesday.

Extreme heat returned to the continent this week after a brief respite. Earlier this summer, two powerful heat waves broke temperature records, with days of unrelenting heat affecting public health, agriculture and energy systems across the continent.

Firefighters, particularly in Spain, Italy, Montenegro and Greece among other countries, have been battling wildfires. In Spain and Italy, emergency teams are deploying water-dropping aircraft and fire extinguishers to protect cities and historic sites.

In Montenegro, military and firefighting units are working in the hills north of the capital Podgorica to control spreading fires. Reports from Greece show teams trying to protect residential areas and the countryside from the advancing flames.

Forest fires have also been reported recently in Portugal, Croatia, Turkey, Albania and the United Kingdom. Record temperatures have been recorded this week in France, Croatia and Portugal, with heat levels continuing to rise in parts of southern and central Europe.

Greece and Spain have been hit hardest by wildfires this week due to high temperatures and dry conditions.

In Greece, over 100 fires broke out within 48 hours, leading to mass evacuations in regions such as Achaia, where 7,500 residents were displaced. Nearly 5,000 firefighters and 33 aircraft have been deployed to control the blazes, which have caused injuries and significant material damage.

Meanwhile, in Spain, fires have burned more than 39,000 hectares, especially in the regions of Castile and Leon, where over 5,000 people were evacuated.

The fires have resulted in several fatalities, including a volunteer firefighter near Nogarejas and a man in the Madrid suburb of Tres Cantos.

Authorities in both countries continue to urge vigilance as the threat of wildfires remains severe.