Firefighters in Spain and Portugal are battling wildfires ahead of an expected rise in temperatures that could worsen the situation on the Iberian Peninsula.

Hot and dry summers are common across the region, but more intense heatwaves have contributed to destructive wildfires in recent years amid fast-rising temperatures around the globe. Portugal and Spain had the hottest June on record.

Almost 2,700 firefighters battled Tuesday to contain forest blazes across Portugal that have led to almost the whole country being put on high alert for fires.Seventeen major fires blazed with the most serious in the centre and north of the country.