Three dead and thousands displaced as wildfires rage across southern Europe

Firefighters outside the Greek port city of Patras struggled to protect homes as flames tore through olive groves. Picture: Thanassis Stavrakis/AP

Wildfires intensified across southern Europe on Wednesday after a overnight battle to protect the perimeter of Greece’s third-largest city, with at least three more deaths reported in Spain, Turkey and Albania.

Firefighters outside the Greek port city of Patras struggled to protect homes and agricultural facilities as flames tore through olive groves.