Firefighters battled blazes across Turkey on Monday as the country sweltered in a summer heatwave across much of the Mediterranean, with wildfires leading to at least 14 deaths in the country in the past week.

Deadly wildfires engulfing parts of Turkey and Greece have forced thousands to evacuate, as much of the Mediterranean and Europe face what meteorologists are describing as an "exceptional," enduring heat wave.

AT least 17 people have been killed in apocalyptic wildfires tearing through Turkey as record-breaking 50C heat and howling winds fuel devastation across the eastern Mediterranean. The infernos

Firefighters warn of a "difficult day" ahead, with temperatures are forecast to reach up to 44C (111.2F) on Sunday.

Greece and Turkey continue to battle major wildfires amid a severe heatwave. Temperatures reached 42.4C in central Greece at the weekend, with emergency services battling fires in the Peloponnese area of Athens and on the popular tourist islands of Kytheria and Crete.

A total of 13 people have been killed in the country this year in wildfires that have flared amid strong winds, high temperatures and dry conditions

Heavy rains swept across northeastern Romania overnight into Monday, causing flash floods that killed at least one person and forced hundreds to flee, as neighbouring Turkey and Albania continued to deal with widespread wildfires amid extreme summer conditions.