Countries around the Mediterranean region have been grappling with searing heat and devastating wildfires, exacerbated by temperatures exceeding 40C, and strong winds.

Pedro Nunes / Reuters A firefighter and locals try to extinguish a wildfire in Cascais, PortugalPedro Nunes / Reuters

In Portugal, firefighters and volunteers have tackled fires sweeping across a natural park near the holiday destination of Cascais.

Manuel de Almeida / EPA A man battles the flames in Alto do Alvide, Cascais, PortugalManuel de Almeida / EPA

Fires have burnt in Sicily - and Palermo Airport was temporarily closed.

EPA A wildfire burns on the hills surrounding the town of Ciaculli, near Palermo, ItalyEPAUfficio Stampa Gesap via Reuters A wildfire burns near the Sicilian airport "Falcone-Borsellino" near PalermoUfficio Stampa Gesap via Reuters

In Algeria, 34 people have died in fires, with the coastal province of Bejaia, east of Algiers, worst affected.

People in the village of de Oeud Das have been surveying the damage to their homes (below).

Billel Bensalem / Getty Images A woman and child walk through burned housed in the village of de Oeud Das in Bejaia in AlgeriaBillel Bensalem / Getty Images

Fires on Rhodes have blazed for nearly a week, with the Greek islands of Corfu and Evia also reporting fires that remain out of control.

Spyros Bakalis / AFP Wildfires burn the forests near the village of Vati in the southern part of RhodesSpyros Bakalis / AFP

Firefighters and volunteers have been mobilised to control the fires on Rhodes, while aircraft have been used to tackle the flames.

Spyros Bakalis / AFP A firefighter looks on during a fire near the village of Vati, RhodesSpyros Bakalis / AFPNicolas Economou / Reuters People look at a firefighting helicopter filling water from a pool, as a wildfire burns in the village of Gennadi, on RhodesNicolas Economou / Reuters

Since the weekend, thousands of people have been evacuated from Rhodes.

Holidaymakers were forced to leave their hotels, some without luggage.

Anadolu Agency / Getty Images Tourists are evacuated as huge wildfire rages on Rhodeson 22 July 2023Anadolu Agency / Getty Images

Evacuees have been put into temporary accommodation at sports halls and conference centres.

Argiris Mantikos/Eurokinissi via Reuters Tourists are sheltered in a stadium after being evacuated following a wildfire on the island of RhodesArgiris Mantikos/Eurokinissi via Reuters

At airports, there were scenes of chaos and long queues, as tourists waited to be flown out.

Will Vassilopoulos / AFP Tourists wait in the airport's departure hall as evacuations are underway due to wildfires, on the Greek island of RhodesWill Vassilopoulos / AFP

The fires have left large areas of Rhodes burnt and blackened and properties destroyed.

As the hot weather conditions continue, there is the ever-present danger that new fires will break out.

Angelos Tzortzinis / AFP An aerial view shows a burnt area after a fire near Vati, on the Greek Aegean island of RhodesAngelos Tzortzinis / AFP

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Greece Wildfires

Could powerful heatwaves and summer wildfires, which have devastated communities and displaced tourists in Greece, become the new normal in Europe?

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