A heat wave dubbed "Lucifer" has sent temperatures soaring to record highs across southern Europe. Authorities have issued weather alerts after at least two deaths.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/J. Stratenschulte
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At least two people were reported to have died from the heat - one in Romania and one in Poland - and many more have been taken to hospital suffering from sunstroke and other heat-related conditions.
Italy, the Balkans and parts of France and Spain are among the most affected countries, with the extreme weather resulting in wildfires and damaging crops throughout the region. Wine growers in Italy started gathering the grape harvest weeks earlier than usual due to the extreme heat.
Bosnian officials said the heat wave and drought had nearly halved the country's agricultural output, which accounts for 10 percent of the country's economic production. Neighboring Serbia reported a similar situation, and experts said drought could slash corn and soybean production by a third.
Wildfires rage through Southeast Europe
Fire fighters have been battling to contain several wildfires in Southeast Europe. Some believe that they were caused by arson. As temperatures remain extremely hot the danger may not yet be fully contained.
Image: picture-alliance/AP Photo/F. Arena
Too close for comfort
Smoke and flames rise from a fire in the Croatian village of Podstrana, near the Adriatic coastal town of Split, on July 18, 2017. In Croatia, the blazes have spread over several locations along the coast and onto the islands, engulfing pine forests and low shrubbery in extremely dry and windy weather.
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Hope for the best
While there were no reports of casualties and the fires only reached a few homes, some people could only stand by and watch as the flames razed everything in their path, especially nature. Fires between the Croatian town of Omis and Split have reportedly destroyed 4,500 hectares of forest.
Image: Reuters/A. Bronic
Desperate times
Forest fires are common in southern Europe each summer, and can sometimes be caused by reckless tourists. However, there have also been cases where speculators have deliberately set fire to properties seeking new land to build on. Croatian news media are already speculating about arson, as fires started in more than 20 sites in Croatia alone.
Image: Reuters/A. Bronic
All hands on deck
Firefighters used aircraft to try to tackle the flames, which continued overnight in both Croatia and neighboring Montenegro. With fires raging on the mainland as well as on islands such as Pag and Vir, the military was also called in to help in both countries. Montenegro also requested NATO's assistance.
Image: Reuters/A. Bronic
Situation mostly under control
Fires that have raged for days in neighboring Montenegro have been brought under control, with soldiers helping to put out blazes on the Lustica peninsula near the town of Tivat. Some remote areas of Montenegro continue to be affected.
Image: Reuters/S. Vasiljevic
Full picture of damage yet to emerge
More than 100 tourists had to be brought to safety in Montenegro alone, as wildfires came threatening close to human habitats. The full extent of the damage remains unknown, as there is still some work to do to stop the fires and prevent future blayes in coming days, as temperatures are expected to soar.
Image: Reuters/S. Vasiljevic
Large parts of southern Europe affected
Europe has been experiencing an unusual heatwave this summer, with temperatures approaching record levels in many places. Southern Italy had to deal with its own wildfires less than a week earlier. The blames consumed swathes of land in the provinces of Cosenza (pictured here) and Salerno as well as parts of Sicily. Portugal was also affected by wildfires a month ago.
Image: picture-alliance/AP Photo/F. Arena
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Official restrictions
Authorities in some areas issued traffic restrictions and banned work in the open during the hottest part of the day, as temperatures surpassed 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit).
Spain's national weather service was among those issuing an emergency high temperature warning for 31 of the country's 50 provinces. Italian authorities issued weather risk warnings for 26 cities, including the tourist hubs of Venice and Rome, where many fountains have been turned off due to drought.
Authorities in other countries urged people to stay indoors and drink water.
