Firefighting teams continued their efforts Thursday to contain a massive wildfire that broke out Tuesday in the forests of Chefchaouen in northern Morocco — the largest blaze of the year.

The fire’s rapid spread was fueled by the region’s rugged terrain and strong winds, destroying about 500 hectares of forest and farmland amid extreme heat and desert winds.

In southern Europe, Portugal, Greece, Italy, and Spain continue battling similar blazes.