Nine people have died from heat stroke in Spain and 12 from the fires in Portugal.

Some had died from heat and excessive exertion.

The department confirmed 1741 sheep died from heat stress and a further 1286 animals "could not be accounted for".

During the summer, these "heat bubbles" can be lethal (during one record-breaking month in 2004, fourteen people died from heat exposure, most of them homeless).

They are thought to have died from heat exposure and dehydration in an area about 18 miles (29 km) east of McAllen.