Spain is battling a series of devastating wildfires that have killed two people and destroyed thousands of hectares of forest and scrubland. There are currently 14 major active fires, Minister for Ecological Transition Sara Aagesen told radio station Cadena Ser on Wednesday.

Evacuation centres are pushed to capacity while heatwave aggravates wildfires in Spain, with scientists pointing to climate change as a major causal factor.

Wildfires caused by arsonists or thunderstorms and fanned by a heatwave and strong winds wreaked destruction across southern Europe on Wednesday, burning homes and forcing thousands of residents and tourists to flee.