Holidaymakers have been forced to flee wildfires in Europe as the continent swelters in a "very unusual" 45C heatwave.
Approximately 600 firefighters and six water-bomber aircraft were deployed today to southwestern France as thousands of tourists were evacuated.
Another 6,000 people from five surrounding campsites were also told to leave.
Christelle, one of the evacuated tourists, told BFM TV: "Other campers woke us up at around 0430 in the morning. We had to leave immediately and quickly choose what to take with us.
"I had forgotten my ID, luckily someone took it for me. But I don't have my phone (...) and we don't know what is going to happen."
The local authorities in Gironde said: "Important human and material resources are being deployed to master the fires (...) local and national reinforcements are expected."
France has been battling a series of wildfires over the last few weeks as several wildfires also swept across Portugal's central region and Spain's western area.
There are two wildfires in the Gironde region - one near the town of Landiras and the other near the Arcachon Bay area.
In Spain, some parts of the country are expected to reach 45C today.
An AEMET spokesman described the conditions as a “very unusual heat wave that is breaking records,” adding that temperatures will not drop until Monday “the entry of a disturbance through the western peninsula will cause a significant drop in mercury throughout the western half of between six and eight degrees".
Spain's health ministry had advised people to drink water frequently, wear light clothing and stay in the shade.
Dania Arteaga, a cleaner in a shop in central Madrid, told the Local : "It's hell."
It comes as Brits are braced for even more sizzling temperatures of up to 37C as a heatwave continues to blast the nation over the weekend and into next week.
The Met Office has extended an 'amber' extreme heat warning covering much of England and Wales from Sunday into Tuesday, saying there could be a danger to life or potential serious illness, with adverse health effects likely across the population.
It said "exceptionally high" temperatures are expected both by day and night, possibly bringing road delays alongside train and flight cancellations.
Today, tomorrow and Friday are likely to bring some rain in the north of the UK and highs of 27C or 28C - slightly cooler than yesterday which saw 31C in parts of south-east England.
