Spain's worst wave of wildfires on record spread to the southern slopes of the Picos de Europa mountains on Monday and prompted authorities to close part of the popular Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route.

Soldiers continue to help firefighters across Spain, including in and around the Galicia and Extremadura regions, following several major wildfires - and more are feared

Wildfires raging in northern and western Spain have burned through nearly the same area in the past 24 hours as in all of last year, although the end of a 16-day heatwave and expected rainfall have fanned hopes that an end may be in sight.

Spain's weather agency warned the public on Monday to be "cautious" of the "very high or extreme fire danger."

The key to preventing forest fires is creating a rural economy based on the use of forests. While this would generate much-needed employment in “la España vaciada” – “hollowed-out Spain”, the name given to the country’s depopulated rural areas – it also costs money. It is therefore essential to invest in forests.

Spain deploys 500 additional soldiers to fight devastating wildfires as extreme heat fuels blazes across Europe.

By Nacho Doce and David Latona SANT ANTONI DE PORTMANY, Spain (Reuters) -It's another night, another party at a hotel in Ibiza. The international clientele dances to the house beat while laser lights reflect on the curvy swimming pool and on a sea of sunglasses worn after dark at the open-air venue.

The rebuilding of the 12 th century Our Lady of the Assumption Cathedral after the Great Fire took twelve years, but today it has the sheen of freshness, in the Gothic style with overlapping floors, crypt and an annex of cloisters.