Searing heat wave sparks more than a dozen devastating wildfires across Europe

More than 6,000 people have been evacuated from campsites in south-west France and major highways have been blocked by Portuguese authorities as fires disrupt tourist vacation

A forest fire hits a wood factory in Albergaria a Velha, Portugal (

Image: Getty Images)

Wildfires are raging across Europe as temperatures have soared above 45 C (113 F) in parts of the continent.

More than 6,000 people were evacuated from campsites as firefighters fought two wildfires in the Gironde region of southwestern France.

The larger of the two fires is around the town of Landiras, south of Bordeaux, where roads have been closed and 500 residents evacuated.

The other is along the Atlantic coast, near the iconic "Dune du Pilat" - the highest sand dune in Europe - located in the Bassin d'Arcachon region where heavy clouds ​of black smoke were seen rising into the sky.

Clouds of smoke from a fire at the foot of the Dune du Pilat are seen in front of a campsite in southwestern France (

Picture:

AFP via Getty Images)

This fire led to the preventive evacuation of 6,000 people from five surrounding campsites. They were taken to a local exhibition center for accommodation.

On the eve of July 14, the Gironde prefecture banned all fireworks until Monday in towns and villages near forests.

In Portugal, major highways and side streets were blocked by authorities in the city of Leiria as high winds made it more difficult for firefighters to fight the flames.

Portugal's most important highway, linking its capital Lisbon to Porto, has also been blocked due to another...