Extremely high temperatures in Western Europe increase the risk of ecological catastrophe, experts say.

Although temperatures briefly dropped in several regions of the continent, wind and dry conditions made wildfires difficult to contain.

In Spain, authorities described the 20-meter-high flames as an inferno.

The fire is burning in dozens of places, and so far the burned area is nearly 700 thousand acres.

In the southwestern part of France, two huge fires have been raging for more than a week.

2,000 firefighters from all over France with planes, helicopters and tankers have been mobilized to fight the disaster.

Great Britain registered an absolute record and the highest temperature - 38.1 degrees.

Western Europe is gripped by a heat wave

hot weather