Wildfires

Wildfires - Portugal

Portuguese emergency services say they are gradually bringing under control a spate of wildfires that erupted after temperatures exceeded 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit).

The Civil Protection Agency says almost 1,700 firefighters are tackling eight large countryside blazes with the help of 20 water-dropping aircraft. It said seven other wildfires are being brought under control and 19 are almost out. Most of the wildfires are in northern Portugal, where thick forests of pine and eucalyptus trees and steep ridges make firefighting especially hard.

Wildfires - Croatia and Montenegro

Croatian authorities say firefighters have battled throughout the night to contain raging wildfires that threatened a key port on the country's Adriatic coast. Parts of the coastal town of Split were enveloped in thick smoke Tuesday after flames reached suburban areas the previous evening. Residents have joined firefighters to defend the houses and stop the fire from spreading. Emergency services say some 80 people have been lightly injured. They say the situation has improved in the morning after firefighting planes took off and the wind slowed down.

In neighboring Montenegro to the south, authorities say they might have to evacuate a village on the Lustica peninsula. About 100 people already have been evacuated the area as fires spread.