Huge wildfires have been raging through a Spanish holiday hotspot – forcing hundreds to evacuate and over 12,000 people to take shelter.Meanwhile in Portugal, at least nine people were left injured after an inferno which ignited on Wednesday continued to tear through forests, The Sun reports.Around 750 hectares of forest near the Costa Brava, Spain, have gone up in flames, sending up plumes of thick smoke amid a record-breaking heatwave.Terrifying infernos in the popular tourist destination were fanned by strong winds.Some 150 residents have been evacuated from their homes, including 70 children at a holiday camp.The Costa Brava blaze started on Saturday morning near the northeastern municipality of La Bisbal d’Emporda, 12 miles from the picturesque coastline.Powerful gusts whipped up the fire and prompted Catalan authorities to order locals in 10 municipalities to stay at home.The instructions have affected 12,000 people in Empordà.Shocking footage also showed horrified bystanders watching in awe of the towering flames and tall plumes of smoke.One clip showed a massive orange and dark cloud hovering above an idyllic Spanish beach, while another showed apocalyptic scenes at night as witnesses stopped their vehicles to record the wildfires.In Portugal, nine people have been injured by the fires, with two in serious condition.Temperatures are expected to reach 44C in some areas, and 12 of the nation’s 18 districts have been put on a red alert – warnings expected to last through the weekend.Portuguese Prime Minister Luis Montenegro said: “Our entire territory is exposed to a very high risk.”Local authorities: “There are three firefighters with minor injuries and one civilian seriously injured, with burns.”Around 1,000 firefighters, supported by around 300 vehicles and eight planes or helicopters, were deployed on Friday to fight the flames.Four other smaller outbreaks were being fought by at least 100 firefighters each.The fire broke out in the municipality of Vouzela, in the district of Viseu.It has already scorched an estimated 10,000 hectares.The fires in Spain and Portugal come as the rest of Europe also grapple with the sweltering heatwave.Nearly 3,000 tourists and locals have been evacuated as out-of-control flames spread through southern France.At least 12 people including a child have been left injured as the fires continue to sweep across towns in the south of the country.Desperate shoppers were also filmed brawling in the aisles of Lidl trying to get their hands on airconditioning units.This article originally appeared in The Sun and has been reproduced with permission.