Villages battle wildfires in Portugal as Ireland braces for European heatwave

A forest fire reaches olive trees in the village of Colmeias, near Leiria, central Portugal, Wednesday, July 13, 2022. Thousands of firefighters in Portugal continue to battle fires all over the country that forced the evacuation of dozens of people from their homes. (AP Photo/Armando Franca)

More than 3,000 firefighters are battling alongside ordinary Portuguese citizens, desperate to save their homes from several wildfires that have raged across the European country — fanned by extreme temperatures and drought conditions linked to climate change.

It comes as a week-long weather advisory has been issued for Ireland, warning of temperatures of 30C or higher in parts of the country.