Pakistan, July 27 -- France and Spain are racing to contain some of the worst wildfires in decades as authorities warn that a new heatwave could intensify the crisis across parts of southern Europe.

Read More: Wildfires force mass evacuations across France, Spain

The blazes, which have swept through forests near Bordeaux in southwestern France and around Madrid in central Spain, have forced more than 325,000 people to evacuate their homes during the peak summer holiday season.

Emergency shelters in both countries have filled with displaced residents and tourists, while thousands of firefighters, supported by water-bombing aircraft, continue battling flames fuelled by prolonged drought, high temperatures and strong winds.

In France's G...