Hundreds of people have been forced to flee their homes as major wildfires continue to rage across southern Europe, with Spain battling multiple blazes while popular holiday destinations in France remain on high alert ahead of another intense heatwave expected to push temperatures close to 45C.

Fire crews in Spain are continuing to tackle a major wildfire north of Madrid that has burned around 13,000 hectares (32,000 acres) and prompted the evacuation of about 700 residents.

Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said his government was closely monitoring the situation and praised emergency crews for their relentless efforts to contain the blaze and protect nearby communities.

Around 300 firefighters, backed by 26 water-bombing aircraft, have been deployed to the fire, which ignited on Thursday in the province of Guadalajara during a spell of extreme heat.

Regional officials have described the blaze as particularly difficult to contain because of the rugged, forested terrain surrounding the Sierra Norte Natural Park, an area home to endangered wildlife including wolves, golden eagles and rare butterfly species.

Elsewhere in Spain, firefighters have gained ground on a separate wildfire near Zaragoza in the north-eastern region of Aragon, where around 1,000 residents were evacuated after flames swept through the countryside.

Authorities say the blaze has burned approximately 14,400 hectares after improved weather conditions slowed its advance. No deaths or injuries have been reported, while emergency officials are assessing when evacuated residents can safely return home.

Spain’s State Meteorological Agency (Aemet) has warned the country is about to enter its third heatwave of the summer, with temperatures forecast to climb steadily before peaking later this week.

A firefighter sprays water on burning cars during a fire in front of a camping site in Villeneuve-les-Beziers, Southern France

The military fighting a wildfire in La Mierla area, near Guadalajara, about 100 kilometers north of Madrid

A major wildfire that has been raging for two days in northeast Spain has reduced more than 12,000 hectares of land to ash

Some parts of south-eastern Spain could approach or even exceed 45C, dramatically increasing the risk of new wildfires as vegetation dries out further.

The warnings come after Spain suffered one of its deadliest wildfires in recent years earlier this month, when 13 people were killed in a blaze in Almería that destroyed around 7,000 hectares.

The wildfire crisis is unfolding across much of southern Europe.

In neighbouring France, thousands of people have already been forced to evacuate as a series of fast-moving wildfires swept through the country’s Mediterranean regions following last month’s record-breaking heatwave.

One of the largest fires erupted near Trévillach in the foothills of the French Pyrenees close to the Spanish border, scorching more than 4,600 hectares and forcing more than 10,000 people to leave over a dozen villages.

French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez warned that worsening weather conditions and powerful winds threatened to reignite the fire’s spread, while residents described flames racing towards homes in a matter of minutes.

‘It came within 300 metres of the houses. We were stunned by how quickly it spread,’ one resident told local media.

The wildfire also disrupted the Tour de France, with organisers urging spectators to avoid the final section of one stage so emergency vehicles could move freely through the affected area. 

Race officials dramatically reduced the convoy accompanying riders, saying the exceptional circumstances required extraordinary safety measures.

Earlier in the month, firefighters battled several major blazes across southern France, including around Marseille and the Aude region near the Spanish border.

More than 1,200 hectares were burned in a single day as strong winds hampered firefighting operations despite the efforts of hundreds of firefighters.

Another wildfire near the Riviera resort town of Fréjus forced more than 2,000 holidaymakers to evacuate six campsites as flames approached popular tourist areas.

Authorities said there were no fatalities, although smoke blanketed parts of Marseille and drifting ash disrupted flights arriving at the city’s airport.

European authorities have warned that prolonged periods of exceptional heat, combined with extremely dry vegetation and low humidity, are creating ideal conditions for large and fast-moving wildfires across the continent.

Scientists say human-driven climate change is increasing the frequency, intensity and duration of heatwaves, leaving forests and grasslands more vulnerable to ignition and allowing fires to spread more rapidly.

Forecasters have also warned that dry thunderstorms could develop over mountainous areas later this week, bringing lightning strikes but little rainfall, conditions that could spark fresh wildfires just as southern Europe braces for another spell of extreme heat.

Germany’s recent cool spell may be short-lived, with another heatwave possible soon. 

Meteorologists say high pressure is expected to rebuild over central Europe, allowing hot air currently over Spain and France to move back into Germany. 

Temperatures could exceed 30°C across much of the country by next weekend, although the exact timing remains uncertain due to a potential boundary between warm and cool air masses. 

The previous heatwave was historic, with Germany reaching a record 41.7C at the end of June and experiencing around 12 consecutive days of heat warnings, making it one of the longest such periods since the German Weather Service (DWD) introduced its heat warning system in 2005.