Dubbed a “heat apocalypse” by a French meteorologist, many nations in Europe are sweltering in record temperatures, causing devastating forest fires in some parts of the continent.
Spain and Portugal have reported more than 1,000 weather-related deaths in the past week, according to Reuters. Firefighters in France and Greece were also involved in efforts to tackle huge fires in rural areas.
Heat records were broken in many parts of western Europe, with Britain recording its hottest day on Tuesday, with temperatures reaching a maximum of 39.1 degrees Celsius (102.4 degrees Fahrenheit).
Fears are growing in Germany about falling water levels in the Rhine River, a vital shipping route in Europe’s economic heartland.
Firefighters try to put out a forest fire near the village of Tabara, near Zamora in northern Spain
Firefighters try to extinguish a forest fire near the village of Tabara, near Zamora, northern Spain, on July 18, 2022.
Miguel Riopa | AFP | Getty Images
Paramedics help a patient into an ambulance during a heat wave in Barcelona, Spain
Paramedics help a patient into an ambulance during a heat wave in Barcelona, Spain, Monday, July 18, 2022.
Angel Garcia | Bloomberg | Getty Images
Firefighters take up positions as smoke rises from a forest fire near Luchat, in the Gironde region of southwestern France
Firefighters take up positions as smoke rises from a wildfire near Luchat as wildfires continue to spread in the Gironde region, southwestern France, July 18, 2022.
Philip Lopez | Reuters
Firefighters work at the scene of a forest fire in Pumarejo de Terra near Zamora, northern Spain
Firefighters work at the scene of a forest fire in Pumarejo de Terra near Zamora, northern Spain, on June 18, 2022.
Cesar Manso | AFP | Getty Images
Firefighters respond to a bushfire that broke out in the woods at Lickey Hills Country Park on the outskirts of Birmingham, England
Firefighters are responding to a large bushfire that has broken out in woodland at Lickey Hills Country Park on the outskirts of Birmingham.
Jacob King – Pa Images | Pa images | Getty Images
A helicopter works during a forest fire in Cebreros in Avila, Spain
A helicopter works during the Cebreros forest fire on July 18, 2022 in Avila, Spain.
Pablo Blasquez Dominguez | News from Getty Images | Getty Images
Firefighters try to control a forest fire near Luchat in Gironde, southwestern France
Firefighters try to control a forest fire near Luchat in Gironde, southwestern France on July 17, 2022.
Thibaut Moritz | AFP | Getty Images
Tourists look at the plume of dark smoke over the dune of Pilat from Cap Ferret due to a forest fire in a forest near La Teste, southwest France
Tourists look at the plume of dark smoke over the dune of Pilat from Cap Ferret due to a forest fire in a forest near La Teste, southwestern France.
Olivier Morin | AFP | Getty Images
A puddle of water in the almost dry bed of the Rhine River in Cologne, western Germany
A photo taken on July 18, 2022 shows a puddle of water amid the almost dry river bed of the Rhine in Cologne, western Germany, as many parts of Europe experience a heat wave.
Ina Fassbender | AFP | Getty Images
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