Madrid - Wildfires continued ravaging Spain on Monday, with one of them prompting the evacuation of 500 people from several municipalities in the western region of Extremadura, officials said.

About 500 firefighters using helicopters were battling the blaze in Las Hurdes near Caceres.

Meanwhile, another fire which devoured 900 hectares of vegetation was brought under control in Segorbe in the east.

Firefighters were also trying to extinguish a blaze which has raged for a week in Horta de Sant Joan in the north-east. The fire was under control after killing five firefighters last week.

Twenty-four provinces were on alert for temperatures expected to reach up to 40 degrees Celsius.

Wildfires have claimed nine lives in Spain so far this year. They have devastated more than 70,000 hectares, nearly twice as much as in 2008. (dpa)