Australia is sending firefighting support to France as devastating wildfires continue to spread across parts of Europe.

Hundreds of thousands of people have been evacuated in France, where huge fires have destroyed tens of thousands of hectares of forest amid extreme heat, dry conditions and strong winds.

The Australian Government is deploying aerial firefighting assets, including a CH-47D Chinook helicopter fitted with a large water tank and a Bell 412 aircraft, along with specialist teams to assist French firefighters battling the crisis.

Wildfires have also affected Greece, Spain and other parts of southern Europe, with firefighters facing dangerous conditions during one of the region’s most intense fire seasons. Several firefighters have died while fighting blazes in Greece.

Authorities say extreme temperatures, drought and changing weather patterns are making wildfires larger and more difficult to control, increasing the need for international cooperation.