Residents of the Chilean town of Portezuelo have been evacuating their houses in the face of advancing forest fires.

Los Angeles – California (USA) - Hundreds of firefighters are battling a rapidly-spreading wildfire raging unchecked in drought-stricken Southern California.

Firefighters in Northern California are continuing to battle a blaze that has destroyed at least 175 homes and businesses and forced 4,000 people to flee their homes.

At least three people have been killed and about a thousand evacuated after wildfires engulfed parts of Funchal, the capital of the Portuguese island of Madeira.