At least five deaths have been reported as Europe endures a heat wave that has put municipal and health officials in several countries on alert.
Two men died on Wednesday on the beaches of the Italian Mediterranean island of Sardinia as a result of the unbearable heat.
Near the town of Budoni on the east coast, a 75-year-old man suffered a fainting spell from which he did not recover, according to emergency services. A 60-year-old man also died on a beach near San Teodoro, another town on the island's east coast.
Temperatures in Sardinia and the neighboring French island of Corsica have exceeded 40 degrees Celsius several times in recent days.
Italy has been suffering from a heatwave for more than a week. Heat warnings were issued in 18 cities on Wednesday, while power outages were reported in several locations, including Florence and Bergamo. Households in Rome also experienced temporary power outages.
At least three people have died during the current heatwave in France, while more than 300 people have received emergency treatment from rescue services.
Two deaths were reported following heat-related complaints, French Environment Minister Agnès Pannier-Runacher said on Wednesday.
The France Info broadcast reported that a construction worker died while working at a football stadium in Auxerre.
Large parts of France faced extreme temperatures. The highest red alert level was in place for 16 departments, including the capital Paris region, where the mercury reached 38 degrees.
In southern and central France, temperatures in some places soared to more than 41 degrees Celsius. According to media reports, some places in France were warmer on Tuesday than at any time in July since measurements began.
The highest level of warning currently applies to only four areas. However, temperatures of up to 39 degrees Celsius were expected on Wednesday. Schools in some places remained closed as a precaution.
A record temperature of 39,3 degrees Celsius was recorded in the western German city of Andernach on Wednesday afternoon, which, according to preliminary data from the German Meteorological Service (DWD), is the hottest temperature this year.
The second highest temperature was recorded in Tangerhütte-Demker in Saxony-Anhalt with 39,2 degrees, followed by the Bavarian town of Kitzingen with 39,1 degrees.
The readings were lower than the German temperature record of 41,2 degrees, recorded on July 25, 2019 at the DWD weather stations in Tönisvorst and Duisburg-Baerl, both in North Rhine-Westphalia.
Photo: EPA/Massimo Percossi
