LISBON: The fires raging across Portugal claimed their first victim Friday (Aug 15), when the former mayor of the eastern town of Guarda died fighting fires there, President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa announced.

Lisbon: Portugal will enter a state of alert from Sunday due to an intense heatwave and a heightened risk of wildfires, with temperatures projected to reach up to 44°C.

The northern regions of mainland Portugal are once again under a red heat alert. From 10 August, temperatures may rise again in the country.

The UK is experiencing unusual hazy conditions following season's fourth heatwave which has left many wondering about the cause.The Met Office has now revealed that smoke from wildfires in Spain and Portugal is responsible for the hazy skies.

Wildfires are burning in parts of Europe as millions of people across the continent struggled to adapt to the new reality: record summer heat.

According to IPMA data, sea temperatures in the Algarve will range between 23 and 24°C through Saturday. View on euronews

Firefighters have spent days battling blazes in Greece, Portugal, Spain and elsewhere. Forecasters said temperatures could pass 111 degrees in some places on Thursday.

Heat alerts were issued in Italy, France, Spain, Portugal and the Balkans. Read more at straitstimes.com. Read more at straitstimes.com.

Portugal suffered its first death Friday from the fires raging there, as Spain's weather agency warned of a "very high to extreme risk" of more wildfires there during Europe's intense heatwave. Further east, Greece was still fighting blazes on one Aegean island, but the situation had improved for several other southern European countries.

The dramatic weather comes as red alerts have been issued for France and Spain with residents urged to stay "absolutely vigilant".