Wildfires rip through southern and central Europe

Beachgoers and campers are forced to flee as wildfires burn across parts of central and southern Europe.

Image:The fires in Croatia surrounded the popular tourist destination of Split

Wildfires are raging in parts of central and southern Europe, with thousands of firefighters tackling blazes in five countries.

About 12 wildfires broke out in Croatia's second largest city of Split, a popular tourist destination.

Several cars were burned and a shopping centre was evacuated in the suburbs of Split, covering the area and thick black smoke.

Around 4,500 hectares (11,120 acres) of land was destroyed, including homes, according to initial estimates.

Firefighters worked through Monday night to bring the fire under control, but some parts of the city reportedly remain without water or electricity.

Image:Fires are still active in several municipalities in Montenegro

In neighbouring Montenegro, forest fires forced the evacuation of more than 100 campers on the Lustica peninsula and spread further inland but were all under control, the interior ministry said.

The country requested two firefighting planes from NATO to help contain the blaze, according to state TV.

The cause of the fires in the two countries is still unknown.

Image:About 300 acres of forest was affected near Nice

Hundreds of firefighters were also working to extinguish a forest fire about nine miles from Nice in the south of France.

The fire spread as unusually hot and dry weather hits much of France.

Jean-Gabriel Delacroy of the Alpes-Maritime regional administration said it was "under control" but not yet over.

About 300 acres of forest was affected by the fire, which reached the town of Castagniers, inland from Nice.

On the Mediterranean island of Corsica, fire swept through around 200 hectares of scrubland near Bonifacio.

Image:More than 450 firefighters battling the fire in Castagniera, north of Nice

In Italy, a fire broke out in a pine forest near Rome's seaside neighbourhood of Ostia.

Flames, driven by strong winds, raced towards homes which had to be evacuated.

Swimmers also fled beaches in fear as vast clouds of smoke rose along the seafront.

The fire is now under control. It was believed to have been deliberately started and a suspect has been arrested.

Image:Houses had to be evacuated due to the fire near Rome

Fires continue to burn in southern Italy in parts of the Calabria region and in the outskirts of Naples where one person died when he fell from his roof trying to look at the flames.

On Europe's Atlantic coast nearly 1,400 firefighters supported by water-bombing planes and helicopters have battled three blazes in northernPortugal since Sunday.

Authorities say firefighters have managed to mostly bring the fires under control, with temperatures falling from 35C to around 30C also providing some relief.