An official in Turkey says the country faces a “very risky week” for wildfires as blazes across parts of southeast Europe and the Balkans damaged homes and led to a huge firefighting operation that included evacuations.

Wildfires are currently raging in Turkey, Greece and Bulgaria amid a 44°C heatwave, ongoing droughts and strong winds. A map from Nasa shows how flames have spread across the region in the last week despite efforts to contain them. What has become clear is that climate change is accelerating the disaster in a region already on the brink.

The NHS warns that excessive heat is potentially dangerous for children aged five and under, and older people aged 65 years and over, as well as people with underlying health conditions including heart problems, breathing problems, and diabetes.