Wildfires are ripping through parts of Greece as the heatwave hitting in Europe takes its toll, triggering evacuations and a huge reponse from emergency services.
Two separate blazes were being tackled by hundreds of firefighters amid the deadly Mediterranean heatwave on Monday night.
In the coastal town of Loutraki, west of Athens, 1,200 children were evacuated as flames approached their camp.
Meanwhile, police arrested a man suspected of starting another blaze in Kouvaras, south-east of the capital Athens.
Greece has hit temperatures of 40C (104F) or more in recent days. The Acropolis in Athens - the country’s most popular tourist attraction - was closed during the hottest hours of Friday and Saturday to protect visitors.
The World Health Organisation warned on Monday that temperatures are set to “intensify” by the middle of the week and is likely to continue into August in some places.
And the Greek meteorological service has warned that the risk of further fires remains high.
The wildfires were fanned by strong winds, with hundreds of firefighters battling to contain the spread of the flames.
Greek television showed several houses and cars gutted by the blaze, while thick white smoke rose from burning vegetation.
In the village of Kalyvia, near Kouvaras, thick smoke blocked the roads and monks were evacuated from a local monastery.
Neighbouring countries including Italy and Spain have been also experiencing unusually high temperatures.
“Temperatures will reach a peak between 19 and 23 July - not only in Italy but also in Greece, Turkey and the Balkans,” Italian meteorologist and climate expert Giulio Betti said.
He added: “Several local heat records within these areas may well be broken during those days.”
Meanwhile Italian health officials have intensified heat warnings as southern Europe began a brutally hot week, with temperatures topping 40C (104F) on the continent.
The health ministry issued 10 recommendations to protect elderly people and the sick as well as pets, urging people to stay indoors during the hottest hours, drink at least 1.5 litres of water a day and refrain from strenuous exercise at peak daylight times.
The culprit was a high-pressure anticyclone dubbed Cerberus, after the multi-headed dog that guards gates to the underworld in Greek mythology.
Local celebrities went on state-run RAI television to read the recommendations aloud, in the hopes of spreading the message.
The third heatwave in a month, dubbed Cheron, is expected to affect much of the Mediterranean and will last until Wednesday.
The mercury in Rome hit 39C (102F) on Monday afternoon, although pharmacies displayed temperatures as high as 44C.
The Italian capital is expected to be even hotter on Tuesday, as were several other cities, particularly in Sardinia and Sicily.
Power outages were hitting parts of Rome as electric grids suffered under heavier demand from air conditioners as people sought relief.
Italian farm lobbying group Coldiretti, meanwhile, issued an alarm about the plight of domestic and farm animals, noting that cows are producing around 10% less milk as a result of the heat.
In Spain, a wildfire that started on Saturday on the Canary island of La Palma continued to burn out of control on Monday, although authorities says weaker winds and cooler temperatures in the area are helping firefighters combat it.
The blaze has burned some 4,600 hectares (11,300 acres) of mostly woody hill land and some 20 houses and buildings.
More than 4,000 residents were evacuated from their homes on Saturday, but were allowed to return as of late Sunday.
Spain’s Aemet weather agency said the heat wave this week “will affect a large part of the countries bordering the Mediterranean” with temperatures in some southern areas of Spain exceeding 42C (107F).
The agency said it expects temperatures to drop some time on Wednesday.
Spokesman Ruben del Campo said an anticyclone is pushing a hot mass of air from Africa towards Spain and other Mediterranean countries.
The agency predicts that with the heat and very dry air, the risk of wildfires will skyrocket.
Greece got a brief respite from the heat on Monday, with opening hours returning to normal at the ancient Acropolis and other sites.
But most of southern Greece, including greater Athens, was at an elevated level of alert for fire risk, while more extreme temperatures are expected starting on Thursday.
The southern Mediterranean was not alone in suffering.
Authorities in North Macedonia extended a heat alert for the next 10 days with predicted temperatures topping 43C (109F), while Kosovo authorities also issued heat warnings.
“Never in my life have I experienced heat like this before in Pristina,” said Artan Kelani, a 22-year-old student.
