Villages battle wildfires in Portugal as Europe swelters

In June, 96% of Portugal was classified as being in either “extreme” or “severe” drought

A forest fire reaches olive trees in the village of Colmeias, near Leiria, central Portugal (Armando Franca/AP)

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.

The central part of the country has been particularly hard hit by a spate of blazes this week.