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(Image: EPA)

Dozens of homes have been destroyed as more than a thousand people have been forced to flee the inferno on the Portuguese island of Madeira.

A shopping centre and a hospital have reportedly evacuated while many are being treated for smoke inhalation.

Flights to and from the airport have also been disrupted by strong winds blowing smoke across the runways.

Local reports say a woman died when her home caught fire near the centre of the city.

British diplomats are due to arrive in the fire-ravaged resort this evening to help tourists caught up in the disaster.

(Image: AFP)

Britain's Ambassador to Portugal, Kirsty Hayes, told regional government officials she was sending consular staff to the island in a phone call in which she expresed her "consternation and solidarity" following the devastating fires.

The island's main motorway has also been reportedly closed for security.

Firefighters said steep hills and dense woodland were making it difficult to tackle the flames.

The fires follow high summer temperatures in the area.

(Image: REUTERS)

The two British Embassy representatives were due to touch down around 7pm local time.

They are expected to meet with British holidaymakers who were among guests evacuated from a boutique hotel overnight and put up temporarily in a sports stadium.

Local authorities allowed guests back to the 81-room Castanheiro Boutique Hotel this morning.

A receptionist at the four-star hotel in the heart of the capital Funchal’s historic area said they had “some British guests but not many.”

British holidaymakers staying at the five-star Choupana Hills Resort and Spa, which was completely destroyed by fire after being evacuated, have been relocated at other hotels on the island.

Regional officials were not able to say how many Brits had been affected but said all the guests at the luxury hotel had been offered complementary tours of the island for the inconvenience they had suffered and were staying at other “emblematic hotels.”

(Image: GOOGLE MAPS)

Regional President Miguel Albuquerque said he was hopful that cooler temperatures expected later today would ease the situation.

The fires – still burning near the island's capital, Funchal – have been brought under control by firefighters, he added.

People have rushed to social media to show their support with the hashtag PrayForPortugal.

One Twitter user wrote: "Thank you to all the firemans who are trying to save your country, you are our heroes [sic]."

Another added: "Please pray for my country!! Everything is being destroyed by flames and it breaks my heart."

Mainland Portugal has also been swept with seven major fires in the north.

Earlier on Tuesday evening, Portugese officials reported that they were burning out of control.