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HUNDREDS of tourists have been forced to flee resorts after wildfires ripped through Portugal while locals endure another heatwave.
More than 500 firefighters and 205 were deployed to try and douse the raging inferno in the south-western town of Odemira.
Teams were aided by 16-water-bombing aircraft which attempted to extinguish the ferocious flames from above.
Nine firefighters have been injured as the blaze scorched acres of countryside just south of Lisbon.
Officials are expected to declare a state of emergency in the region as the wind carries the fire further.
Around 1,400 people were evacuated from various neighbouring towns, according to reports.
Over a hundred holidaymakers were rushed out of hotels to safety as the flames continued to grow closer.
It is feared the blaze could spread to nearby areas while water supplies in the region continue to dwindle.
A second wildfire erupted close to the city of Castelo Branco has also incinerated around 7,000 hectares of land.
More than 1,100 firefighters and 14 water-carrying planes battled against the blaze in hot and windy conditions.
It spread to the Fatima Sanctuary, about 60 miles away from where hundreds of thousands gathered to see Pope Francis on Saturday.
Fire services in Portugal are extremely stretched, as another fire was reported to have broke out in Ourém on Sunday morning.
Around 325 firefighters, 100 vehicles and five water bombers were said to be on the scene.
The town of Mangualde has also been devastated by a relentless fire that began early this morning.
The Portuguese Institute of the Sea and the Atmosphere (IPMA) warned the districts of Beja and Faro are also at risk.
Experts say the Iberian heatwave is set to last until Thursday, increasing the likelihood of more uncontrollable infernos.
Ruben del Campo of the Spanish state weather agency said this week’s weather will be more “intense, widespread and a little longer lasting” than July.
Temperatures are still often topping 40C in Portugal as the searing summer heat continues.
Lisbon has been added to the list of cities and towns under a “red alert” weather warning.
The mercury is expected to soar to a whopping 44C in the capital.
Weather experts have declared 2023 an El Niño year – a natural phenomenon that occurs cyclically and causes fluctuations in the global climate.
The UN’s World Meteorological Organization said it will raise temperatures around the world, and the effect is likely to continue for the rest of the year.
It comes weeks after wildfires erupted across Greece, forcing over 20,000 holidaymakers and locals to flee.
The fierce blaze broke out on July 18 in Rhodes and quickly spread to the eastern and southern coast – an area with many beach resorts.
Greek officials said it was the biggest evacuation effort the country had ever faced.
The flames burned for nearly a week as Greece was battered by a spell of extreme heat that made it challenging to contain the blaze.
Brit tourists who were caught up in the chaos are now being offered trauma counselling.
Wildfires have also been wreaking havoc across Gran Canaria and Italy in recent weeks.
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