Firefighters struggle as Spain and Portugal get roasted

Firefighters in Portugal and Spain are struggling to contain forest and brush fires as scorching temperatures punish areas hit by drought.

In Portugal about 2357 firefighters with 694 vehicles including four water-dropping aircraft are still battling nine blazes that have badly hit the centre and the north of the country, down from 22 the day before.

Much of Portugal has been experiencing temperatures of 40C. In the Spanish cities of Seville and Cordoba 42C was expected yesterday.

About 200 firefighters are using water-dropping aircraft and bulldozers on a fire about 400km west of Madrid.