Soldiers continue to help firefighters across Spain, including in and around the Galicia and Extremadura regions, following several major wildfires - and more are feared

The fires have ravaged small, sparsely populated towns in the country's northwest, forcing locals in many cases to act as firefighters. About 2,382 square miles have burned across Spain and Portugal.

Spain has sent 500 more troops to fight raging wildfires, bringing the total deployed to 1,900, as the death toll from the blazes has risen to four. On Sunday, a firefighter died after an accident during firefighting efforts when his truck fell down a steep hill,

Portugal is battling five major wildfires as of August 19, with more than 2,700 firefighters, 902 ground resources, and at least 35 aircraft deployed.

The Covilha wildfire, now the country's most resource-intensive fire, has spread to Fundao and Silvares. Authorities have warned residents of multiple villages to seek safety as flames threaten homes,

Wildfires have ravaged more than 450,000 hectares of land across the Iberian peninsula since the start of the year, setting records in a region particularly hard hit by intensive heatwaves and drought affecting southern Europe.

Spain's worst wave of wildfires on record spread to the southern slopes of the Picos de Europa mountains and prompted authorities to close part of the popular Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route.

Firefighters in Spain, Portugal and Greece continued to battle wildfires Friday on a public holiday in all three countries as persistent hot, dry conditions challenged efforts to contain the blazes. Spain was fighting 14 major fires.

THIS is the horrifying moment a fire tornado violently erupts in Portugal killing a mayor in its blaze. It comes as hundreds of dangerous and deadly wildfires have plagued Europe in recent weeks