In the central Madrid region of Spain, where more than 27,000 hectares (66,000 acres) have burnt, residents have faced similar ordeals.

“Everyone had to get out of the village quickly, it was a critical situation and people were scared,” Olga Congacha told AFP news agency.

She and her husband did not take much: “[We] left with all that we could grab, our important documents, some clothes”.

In the eastern Castellón province, Ricardo Pozo told AFP that he had “never seen a fire this intense before”.

“I’ve seen major fires, but on television. Nothing like this, here and now.”

Maria Garcia, who lives in Betxí – also in the Castellón province – described to Reuters how the fires had put life on pause for those who evacuated: “You can’t go out to work, you can’t go about your daily life.”

“You can see the mountains you’ve known your whole life burning,” she added.