Severe weather is causing widespread disruption throughout Europe, overwhelming emergency services as wildfires, heatwaves, and storms spread across the region.
Flames have broken out in Portugal,Greece, and Spain, while tornadoes have hit popular tourist areas in certain parts of Spain and Switzerland.
Tens of thousands of firefighters have been fighting a dozen wildfires burning in northern Portugal and central Spain throughout the night and into Wednesday, marking the most significant outbreak of fires in the Iberian Peninsula this year after weeks of summer heat.
The biggest wildfire has been raging in the forested, mountainous region of Arouca — approximately 300 km (185 miles) north of Lisbon — since Monday, causing the scenic trails of Passadicos do Paiva, a well-known tourist spot, to be closed.
Over 800 firefighters, along with seven aerial water-dropping planes, worked to combat the fire.
"A significant effort was made throughout the night, resulting in a more stable situation now," said Helder Silva, head of Civil Protection, to journalists, while warning that powerful winds and challenging terrain meant their tasks were still far from complete.
"It's a significant large-scale wildfire in regions that are hard to reach," he stated.
Further north, a fire has been burning since Saturday in the Peneda-Geres national park, close to the Spanish border, causing thick smoke that forced residents to remain indoors.
Portuguese firefighters were able to contain two major fires that broke out on Monday in the central regions of Penamacor and Nisa.
Officials stated that the Penamacor fire had burned 3,000 hectares (7,413 acres) of woodland.
In the central province of Avila in Spain, strong wind currents impeded the work of firefighters and a specialized military team, according to emergency services.
People living in the village of El Arenal, approximately 100 km (62 miles) west of Madrid, were told to stay inside because of thick smoke.
Near Avila, in Mombeltran, farmer Blas Rodriguez held back his tears while walking through the burned trees, his olive orchard ruined by the fire.
"This land is my father's. It was destroyed 16 years ago, but the olive trees remained untouched by the fire... this time, there's no chance to save them, everything is entirely burned," he said to Reuters.
In the western region of Caceres, the fire has burned 2,500 hectares, leading to the evacuation of homes located in the Caminomorisco area, according to officials.
Prolonged and scorching summers are typical in the area, yet increasingly severe heatwaves have led to devastating wildfires in recent years as global temperatures continue to climb rapidly.
In the meantime, a significant wildfire is actively spreading through a wooded region located between Kanali and Monolithi in Preveza.
The fire began around 2pm local time (12:00 PM BST) and spread rapidly.
Shortly following the fire started, a 112 alert was issued to local residents, advising them to stay vigilant and prepare for possible evacuation.
Residents have expressed concerns that emergency planes arrived too late, causing the fire to spread and damage a protected region, according to local media.
Around 40 firefighters are battling the fire using 16 vehicles, 4 planes, and 1 helicopter on site.
Water trucks and municipal resources are also assisting in putting out the fire.
Gusts of wind are reportedly sweeping across the location, complicating the efforts of the Fire Department.
The blaze has caused traffic disruptions on the National Highway between Monolithi Junction and the Kanali intersection.
Wildfires are not the only disasters causing destruction across Europe; storms and tornadoes are also making their impact felt.
In Mallorca, striking video captured over the weekend depicts a tornado hitting a beach, causing sand and towels to fly into the air as visitors rush to safety.
In the meantime, a sharp drop in temperature led to snowfall during the night in Isère, Savoie, and Haute-Savoie.
Additionally, on Tuesday in Switzerland, a fisherman recorded a video showing a remarkable waterspout twisting upwards into the sky above Lake Constance.
It follows intense wildfires that swept through Turkey, outside the country's fourth-largest city - causing hundreds of residents to leave their homes.
Intense fires spread across the wooded mountains near Bursa city in northwest Turkey during the night of July 26, casting a menacing red light into the sky.
It signifies the most recent city affected by fatal fires this summer — with locations in Greece and Cyprus also experiencing intense wildfires due to unusually high temperatures.
The Bursa governor's office reported that over 1,760 individuals were securely moved from villages in the northeastern area while more than 1,100 firefighters worked to contain the fire.
The road connecting Bursa to the capital, Ankara, was blocked due to nearby forest fires.
Orhan Saribal, a member of the opposition in the provincial assembly, compared the situation to 'an apocalypse'.
Turkey has experienced numerous wildfires daily since late June, with Forestry Minister Ibrahim Yamukli stating that firefighting teams dealt with 76 different fires just yesterday.
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