Three firefighters died while battling fast-moving wildfires in Greece as an intense heatwave continues to fuel blazes across large parts of southern Europe, forcing hundreds of thousands of people from their homes and stretching emergency services.

More than 2,200 firefighters and over 20 aircraft remain mobilized, supported by crews from across France and European partners.

Heatwaves intensify deadly fires across Europe, killing two firefighters on the Greek island of Crete.

Over 150 firefighters and eight aircraft had been dispatched, the fire department said.