Greece battled a dozen major wildfires on Wednesday, including one threatening its third-largest city Patras, as a heatwave stoked blazes and forced the evacuation of thousands in southern Europe.

Spain, Portugal, France, Italy, the Balkans and Britain have this week wilted in high temperatures that fuel wildfires and which scientists say human-induced climate change is intensifying.

- Greece -

Thousands of firefighters backed by the army deployed across Greece, with fire service spokesman Vassilis Vathrakogiannis saying "the situation remains difficult" for "forces waging a tough battle".

"It's a cocktail of high temperatures, strong winds... and minimal humidity," the head of civil protection for Western Greece, Nikos Gyftakis, told public broadcaster ERT.

AFP journalists saw reside

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