A wildfire near Yosemite National Park in California is spreading rapidly putting thousands of lives in danger. The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection described it as being "zero percent under control" on Saturday morning local time.

Central and North Eastern regions of the US are also sweltering under extreme heat. Temperatures of 38C (100.4 F) are forecast in Washington DC and Dallas, with New York only slightly cooler.

An official in Oklahoma - where the temperature is anticipated to reach 41C on Sunday - said the heat was the main factor in weather-related deaths in the US.

Dubbed the Oak Fire, the fire in California started on Friday afternoon local time and had grown to 10.2 square miles (26.5 sq km) by Saturday morning, the Associated Press reports.

Climate change heightens the risk of the hot, dry weather that is likely to fuel wildfires. The world has already warmed by about 1.1C since the industrial era began and temperatures will keep rising unless governments around the world make noticeable cuts in emissions.

Source: BBC