Thousands evacuated as wildfires rage across Spain during scorching heat wave

Firefighting helicopters dropped water on a blaze in Torre de la Pena, in the south of the country, last week (Nono Rico/Europa Press via AP)

Thousands of people in Spain faced evacuation orders as wildfires continued to burn across the Iberian Peninsula during a heat wave expected to reach temperatures of 44C in some places.

Firefighters had largely contained a blaze outside Madrid that broke out on Monday night, authorities said on Tuesday.