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.

The fires have ravaged small, sparsely populated towns in the country's northwest, forcing locals in many cases to act as firefighters. About 2,382 square miles have burned across Spain and Portugal.

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,

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.

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.

In neighbouring Portugal, where fires are also blazing, another firefighter was killed on Sunday in a "tragic" traffic accident, President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa said. Fires have also broken out in Greece, France, Turkey and the Balkans as a heatwave has scorched swathes of southern Europe.

Wildfires have ravaged more than 450,000 hectares of land across the Iberian peninsula since the start of the year, setting records in a region particularly hard hit by intensive heatwaves and drought affecting southern Europe.

Spain's worst wave of wildfires on record spread to the southern slopes of the Picos de Europa mountains and prompted authorities to close part of the popular Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route.

Our favourite holiday hotspots have been hit by wildfires — will it impact your travel plans? - If you have plans to visit one of Europe’s popular holiday destinations this summer, there’s a chance your trip may derailed.