Tens of thousands of people have been evacuated and hundreds of homes have been destroyed as wildfires spread through the US state of Colorado, BBC News reported.

A state of emergency has been declared in Colorado by Governor Jared Polis.

Some 30,000 people in the towns of Louisville and Superior were told to leave their homes on Thursday.

The fast-moving fires are burning in Boulder County, north of Denver, and officials say deaths and injuries are likely as the blazes spread further.

Winds of up to 169 kph are sweeping flames across the region following a historic drought.