A fierce wildfire driven by extreme heat and wind has forced over 18,000 people into lockdown in Spain’s Tarragona province, Reuters reports. The fire, which erupted on July 7 near the village of Pauls,

A blaze in southern France forced the closure of the Marseille airport, and weather agencies issued warnings for other parts of Europe where temperatures were expected to climb this week.

Spanish authorities have ordered more than 18,000 residents in the northeastern Tarragona province to remain indoors, with several dozen evacuated, as a raging wildfire consumed nearly 3,000 hectares (7,413 acres) of vegetation.

Hundreds of Spanish firefighters on Tuesday battled a forest fire stoked by fierce winds that had burned more than 3,000 hectares, with authorities ordering 18,000 residents to stay at home.

Video. A fast-moving wildfire in Catalonia has scorched more than 8,000 hectares in just 24 hours, as Europe's record-breaking heatwave continues to intensify.

Near the city of Narbonne, a forest fire the size of 2,000 rugby pitches forced a motorway to Spain to close on Tuesday.

Firefighters struggle to contain wildfire in Spain