Thousands of people have been evacuated as massive wildfires continue to ravage northern Spain, fueled by drought and strong winds.

Large fires are raging across Spain, particularly in the northern regions of Castile and Leon and Navarre, as record temperatures continue to hit southern Europe.

Thousands of people have been evacuated from affected areas as efforts to extinguish the flames continue.

Drought conditions and strong winds are hampering firefighting. Authorities have blocked roads to nearby towns and villages in an attempt to contain the spread of the fires.

Residential areas under threat

In the small town of Molezuelas de Carballeda in Zamora, personnel from the military emergency unit worked throughout the night from Sunday to Monday to fight the flames. The fire was spreading rapidly and had reached an agricultural business, affecting a greenhouse and several nearby buildings.

Residents of the village of Carucedo, in the province of Castile and Leon, were evacuated over the weekend as fires reached residential areas of the municipality. Authorities said winds were helping to carry the flames further and continued to pose a serious threat.

Six fires have broken out in the province, and firefighters are still working to extinguish them. The region remains on alert because two of these fires are located within critical distance of populated areas.

Authorities say 30,000 people have been evacuated from the small village of Yeres as the fires continue to move closer.