It’s been even more deadly in Spain, which is experiencing some of its worst wildfires for decades, with temperatures soaring as high as 44 celsius. While the extreme weather also triggered a tornado in southern Spain.

Cooler conditions are helping Spanish and Portuguese firefighters tackle deadly blazes that have forced tens of thousands of people to flee over the past two weeks.

Spain's weather agency warned the public on Monday to be "cautious" of the "very high or extreme fire danger."

Demonstrations continued in Castile and León against the handling of widespread wildfires, with residents demanding stronger action and greater involvement from Spain’s central government.

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The key to preventing forest fires is creating a rural economy based on the use of forests. While this would generate much-needed employment in “la España vaciada” – “hollowed-out Spain”, the name given to the country’s depopulated rural areas – it also costs money. It is therefore essential to invest in forests.