Extreme heat has smashed temperature records across Europe in recent days, fueling wildfires. Weather forecaster Meteo France said in an update that "unprecedented maximum temperatures, often 12 degrees above normal levels" were set earlier in the week.

Firefighters have spent days battling blazes in Greece, Portugal, Spain and elsewhere. Forecasters said temperatures could pass 111 degrees in some places on Thursday.

The Mediterranean basin is facing a new wave of heatwaves and large-scale wildfires. The affected countries have struggled to cope with the consequences of these extreme events.