Greece, Turkey, and parts of Southern Europe are battling massive wildfires as the region experiences a significant heatwave.

By STAMOS PROUSALIS DROSOPIGI, Greece (Reuters) -Firefighters were battling wildfires across Greece and the Western Balkans on Saturday as the south of Europe sweltered under the third heatwave of the summer,

Greece is among the countries in southern Europe battling wildfires this summer as firefighters continue to tackle blazes on both the mainland and on several of its islands

Deadly wildfires engulfing parts of Turkey and Greece have forced thousands to evacuate, as much of the Mediterranean and Europe face what meteorologists are describing as an "exceptional," enduring heat wave.

Greece and Turkey continue to battle major wildfires amid a severe heatwave. Temperatures reached 42.4C in central Greece at the weekend, with emergency services battling fires in the Peloponnese area of Athens and on the popular tourist islands of Kytheria and Crete.

A wildfire has burned through a northern suburb of Athens, Greece, prompting evacuations. On Saturday, residents of Kryoneri received three SMS messages to evacuate to safe areas.

Greece battled wildfires that have ravaged homes and prompted evacuations for a second day on Sunday, with the help of Czech firefighters and Italian aircraft expected to arrive later.

Firefighters battled on Monday to put out wildfires in three separate provinces of Turkey, in Greece and near a tourist resort in Albania, stoked by strong winds after days of searing heat across the Mediterranean region.

Greece and Turkey face deadly wildfires as extreme heat drives record-breaking temperatures and mass evacuations.

Wildfires have engulfed Turkey for weeks, threatening Bursa, the country’s fourth-largest city and forcing over 1,700 people to flee.

Greece continued its fight against raging wildfires on Sunday, though many fire outbreaks have now been brought under control. Firefighters responded to 55 new fires within the past 24 hours, successfully extinguishing 50 of them quickly,