Firefighters in Spain and Portugal are battling wildfires ahead of an expected rise in temperatures that could worsen the situation on the Iberian Peninsula.

More than 1,300 firefighters backed up by a dozen waterbombing planes battled three big wildfires in central and northern Portugal on Tuesday, with authorities putting most of the country on red alert for fires after weeks of hot weather.

Firefighters gained control over some of the dozens of wildfires scorching Portugal on Wednesday, as fears mounted that weather conditions could further fan the flames. Some 1,500 firefighters were deployed to four major fires in the north and centre of the country,