Heat warnings, record highs and special measures for the elderly. The heat has gripped several European countries – where it is expected to be 42 degrees in several places on Wednesday and Thursday.

Twelve Italian cities have been under the highest heat warning since Tuesday. It is over 40 degrees Celsius but temperatures are expected to rise further.

”It's hot as hell,” says Spanish tourist Carmen Díaz in Rome.

The zoo in the The Italian capital plans to give the animals popsicles later this week, in an attempt to offer them some coolness.

In Greece, the most visited tourist attraction, the Acropolis, will be closed during the hottest hours of Wednesday due to the heat wave.

Meanwhile, the temperature in the Adriatic Sea reached a near-record high of 30 degrees in Dubrovnik, Croatia. In Serbia, the state-owned power company is reporting record consumption due to the extensive use of air conditioning.

Municipalities in several Cities in Southern Europe and the Balkans have taken special measures to protect the health of the elderly. North Macedonia is facing a heatwave for the second time in July and around 200 forest fires have raged in the country since the beginning of the month.

Source: TT-DI.SE