In France's Gironde region, firefighters continue to battle around the clock against forest fires that have been raging for several days between the coast and Bordeaux. According to regional prefect Sophie Broca, new fires broke out on Tuesday in 14 villages previously affected by fire, the BBC reports.

A fourth summer heat wave is expected from the start of the week, with temperatures in the region expected to reach 40 degrees Celsius. Similar weather conditions are also forecast for neighboring Spain.

Over the past week, fires have forced the evacuation of more than 70 thousand people. In Spain, some evacuation measures have already been lifted, with approximately 44 thousand people able to return home or leave temporary accommodation. The Madrid region was hit the hardest.

In Portugal, about 400 firefighters are battling a major fire in the eastern district of Guarda, where the fire is spreading in three directions.

Bordeaux itself, according to authorities, is not yet under immediate threat, although one of the fires came within 15 kilometers of the city limits on Monday. Air quality in the city has also noticeably worsened.

On Tuesday morning, the prefect of Gironde ordered a new evacuation of all campsites on the coast in the Lacanau area; residents of the nearby town are allowed to remain, but they are warned to be prepared for an emergency evacuation. This brings the number of tourists forced to flee their homes to another 4 thousand adding to the 220 thousand evacuated across France in recent days.

Authorities estimate that approximately 240 homes and buildings have been destroyed by the fire. By Tuesday afternoon, firefighters were again deployed in various parts of the region to battle renewed outbreaks.

Interior Minister Laurent Nunes announced that 184 people have been arrested in connection with the fires in France since July 6. One of the suspects, a 23-year-old man accused of arson in the Var region, faces up to 15 years in prison.