World News 1: Wildfires rage across southern Europe as temperatures top 40C

Good morning, I'm Choi Chi-hee, and this is The World Now.

From Spain to the Balkans, a severe heatwave is driving temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius and fires have broken out across southern Europe, resulting in three deaths and forcing thousands to evacuate.

In Spain, a wildfire near Madrid resulted in one death late Monday and forced the evacuation of 180 people.

Another person died fighting fires in northwest Spain, while in southern Spain's Cadiz region, over 2,000 tourists and residents were evacuated from hotels and beaches as a fast-moving blaze filled the skies with black smoke.

Spain's military said on Tuesday that nearly 1,000 soldiers have been deployed to combat wildfires across the country.

Greece, which is facing more than 100 wildfires, has requested emergency assistance including water-dropping planes from the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism.

Wildfires have broken out in several other countries. One person fighting fires in Montenegro died when a water tanker overturned, while in Turkiye, around 50,000 people have been evacuated due to fires.

Scientists warn that climate change is turning southern Europe into a tinderbox due to rising temperatures and prolonged droughts.