Firefighters battled blazes across Turkey on Monday as the country sweltered in a summer heatwave across much of the Mediterranean, with wildfires leading to at least 14 deaths in the country in the past week.

Deadly wildfires engulfing parts of Turkey and Greece have forced thousands to evacuate, as much of the Mediterranean and Europe face what meteorologists are describing as an "exceptional," enduring heat wave.

The funerals of 10 rescue volunteers and forestry workers killed while battling a wildfire have been held in Turkey

Mr Yumaklı said Turkey broken an all-time temperature record on Friday of 50.5C in the southeastern Sirnak. Information published by the country’s General Directorate of Meteorology suggested that temperatures would rise by another 10 degrees, starting Saturday. The highest temperatures for July were seen in 132 other locations.

A total of 13 people have been killed in the country this year in wildfires that have flared amid strong winds, high temperatures and dry conditions

Extreme heat, high winds and fires have plagued parts of Greece and Turkey as temperatures in Greece have risen to 111.2 degrees and in Turkey to 122.9 degrees.

Greece and Turkey continue to battle major wildfires amid a severe heatwave. Temperatures reached 42.4C in central Greece at the weekend, with emergency services battling fires in the Peloponnese area of Athens and on the popular tourist islands of Kytheria and Crete.

Wildfires that have engulfed Turkey for weeks are threatening the country's fourth-largest city, leading to hundreds of people fleeing their homes.

In Turkey, three volunteer firefighters were killed when their vehicle overturned near Bursa, and at least 17 people have died in fires since late June. View on euronews