As Spain enters its third week of heatwave alerts, firefighters continue to battle blazes in the northwest and west of the country, with army units deployed to help contain the

Firefighters and military units are struggling to contain wildfires in northwest and western Spain as a prolonged heatwave intensifies the crisis.

Spain is battling a series of devastating wildfires that have killed two people and destroyed thousands of hectares of forest and scrubland. There are currently 14 major active fires, Minister for Ecological Transition Sara Aagesen told radio station Cadena Ser on Wednesday.

At least one person was killed in Spain where wildfires fueled by the current heat wave in Southern Europe continue to burn.

Wildfires caused by arsonists or thunderstorms and fanned by a heatwave and strong winds wreaked destruction across southern Europe, burning homes and forcing thousands of residents and tourists to flee.

Firefighters have spent days battling blazes in Greece, Portugal, Spain and elsewhere. Forecasters said temperatures could pass 111 degrees in some places on Thursday.

Spain on Friday warned of "very high or extreme fire danger in most of the country," as firefighters there continue battling 14 blazes in temperatures up to 104 degrees Fahrenheit.

Temperatures could exceed 42 C (107 F), according to the Spanish Meteorological Agency, which has issued alerts for more than 30 provinces across the country, and the city of Córdoba is facing one of the most intense days of this second summer heatwave.

France’s red warning is for the south west of the country, with citizens told to remain “absolutely vigilant” as “everyone is at risk, even healthy people” during a heatwave, according to Meteo France, the country’s meteorological service.