Heatwave scorches Europe

Hundreds more people were evacuated from their homes as wildfires blistered land in France, Spain and Portugal yesterday, while officials in Europe issued health warnings for the heatwave in the coming days.

More than 1,000 firefighters, supported by water-bomber aircraft, have battled since Tuesday to control two blazes in southwestern France that have been fanned by scorching heat, tinder-box conditions and strong winds.

While temperatures dipped a little in Portugal, they were still expected to top 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) in some places, with five districts on red alert and more than 1,000 firefighters tackling 17 wildfires, authorities said.

In Spain, the Environment Ministry said it was helping tackle 17 wildfires across the country.

Meanwhile, the worst drought in over 70 years reduced Italy's longest river, the Po, to little more than a trickle in places.

Italy has declared a state of emergency along the Po, which supports about a third of the country's agricultural production, after facing its hottest July since 1800, with temperatures expected to rise next week.

Britain's weather forecaster issued its first red "extreme heat" warning for parts of England on Monday and Tuesday.