Madrid (Spain), 15 August (LaPresse/AP) – Firefighters continue to battle several wildfires in Spain, Portugal and Greece amid scorching heat and persistent drought, which are hampering efforts to contain the flames. Spain is currently grappling with 14 large fires, with temperatures expected to rise over the weekend. The national weather agency has reported an extremely high risk of fires across much of the country. Fires in the Galicia region have forced the closure of motorways and the suspension of the high-speed rail link connecting the region to the capital Madrid. In Portugal, nearly 4,000 firefighters are battling seven large fires. A forest fire in Greece has been out of control for the fourth consecutive day on the island of Chios, prompting further evacuations and authorities remain on high alert. Two firefighting planes and two helicopters are operating in the north of the island, in the eastern Aegean Sea, where local authorities say a lull in strong winds helped firefighters in the early hours of Friday.
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