European countries are witnessing a significant rise in temperatures, causing fires in some of them, including France and Germany, while resulting in hundreds of deaths in Spain and Portugal, according to the German news agency.

The firefighting teams in France are continuing their efforts to control two major fires that broke out in the Gironde region (southwest of the country), and have so far destroyed 9 thousand hectares and evacuated 12 thousand people, in the context of a heat wave that can reach 40 degrees Celsius locally, according to meteorology. The French, which put 37 departments on high alert, today, Sunday.

And the General Meteorological Corporation warned that "the temperature is increasing while the heat wave is spreading throughout the country."

Civil protection sources said the fire had subsided in the town of Test de Bosch, while the police prefecture in the town of Landera said the situation was not yet under control.

In all, more than 14,000 residents and vacationers have had to urgently pack their bags since last Tuesday.

Also, 7 emergency shelters and a medical and psychological emergency unit were set up to support those affected.

As for Portugal, it witnessed a calm Sunday morning on the front facing the fire.

One outpost remained active near the northernmost town of Chaves, while more than 90% of its surroundings were "practically controlled", according to the Portuguese Civil Protection.

Fires erupt in Portugal amid an unprecedented European heat wave (Getty Images)

However, almost all of the Portuguese territory was considered vulnerable to fires on Sunday, based on "extreme", "very high" or "high" risks, particularly the central and northern interior.

The Portuguese Meteorological Institute did not issue any warning of high temperatures on Sunday.

It is the first time since July 8 that temperatures in Portugal do not exceed 40 degrees Celsius.

While the temperature was reaching a record high, 47 degrees Celsius.

And in northern Europe, the UK National Weather Service issued its first "red" alert of extreme heat, warning of a "risk to life".

The Met Office said temperatures in southern England could hit 40 degrees for the first time, next Monday or Tuesday.

The British authorities announced the imposition of a state of emergency across the country, after temperatures reached unprecedented levels.

Standard temperatures

This heat wave may be the highest in Europe in nearly 70 years;

According to the Potsdam Institute for Climate, the hottest summers in Europe since 1500 were all recorded in the 21st century.

In Germany, the temperature will exceed its record recorded in the middle of the last century, reaching about 40 degrees Celsius, which is the expected temperature in southern France as well.

In Spain, the temperature reached 45 and a half degrees, and the temperature will rise to 40 in the Netherlands this week.

In the European heat wave of 2003, scientists estimated, by analyzing the deaths, that about 70,000 people - mostly sick and elderly people - died from hyperthermia.