File photo
Pregnant women, children, the elderly especially urged to stay indoors amid punishing heat across continent
Residents of France, Spain, Germany, and other parts of Europe are sweating this week as a heat wave hits the continent.
The abnormally hot weather, arriving with masses of warm air coming from North Africa, is pushing the Mercury past 40 C (104 F) in places.
Amid the punishing temperatures, officials warned especially the elderly, children, and pregnant women to stay indoors, in cool places.
On Wednesday a number of European countries, including Austria, France, Italy, Poland, and Switzerland, issued alerts for the heat, which is expected to last until the end of the month, according to the World Meteorological Organization.
Sweltering sun
Temperatures in Spain are expected to rise to 42 C (107.6 F), particularly inland.
Italy issued amber alerts in 19 cities, including Rome, Florence and Perugia, due to average temperatures that will reach 43 C (109.4 F) this weekend.
June temperature records were also broken in France, where Wednesday temperatures did not fall below 34 C (93.2 F).
Weather stations in Germany also hit new June temperature records.
Temperatures above 38 C (100.4 F) were measured Wednesday, the hottest day in June since 1947.
Austria is also expected to have its warmest June on record, 4.5 degrees C (40.1 F) above the long-term average, according to state meteorologists.
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