Wildfires are often associated with the destruction they leave behind, but the smoke they produce can pose a serious health threat far beyond the fire zone, the World Health Organization (WHO) has warned.

Wildfire smoke from southern Europe's fires is a growing health emergency, WHO warns, and public health authorities need to do more to inform and protect the most vulnerable.

Wildfires in France and Spain have exposed millions of people to health-damaging air pollution over the last few days, scientists said on Thursday (all times local).