In neighbouring Portugal, where fires are also blazing, another firefighter was killed on Sunday in a "tragic" traffic accident, President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa said. Fires have also broken out in Greece, France, Turkey and the Balkans as a heatwave has scorched swathes of southern Europe.

Thousands of firefighters backed by the military and water-bombing aircraft on Monday battled dozens of wildfires across Spain and Portugal, as the death toll increased to six since the outbreaks began.

Spain is deploying 500 more soldiers and European allies are rushing firefighters and equipment to bolster emergency teams struggling to battle blazes that remain out of control around the country. The reinforcements bring the number of Spanish military personnel aiding local firefighters to about 4,