It's hot in Europe, very hot – with some places experiencing the most severe heatwave in decades. For example, the temperatures in France, Spain, and Portugal have exceeded 40 degrees Celsius.

And in the Avila region of central Spain, temperatures even reached a record for the country, of 47.4 degrees Celsius - although it still needs to be verified by the World Meteorological Organization. The increase in temperature fueled fires that forced the evacuation of around 600 people.

The high temperatures have also caused fires in Greece, Turkey and North Africa among other places. 

While Southern Europe has historically suffered heatwaves, they are becoming more common, which, coupled with the severity of this year's high temperatures, has been attributed to climate change.

Between 2011 and 2020, Spain recorded twice as many heatwaves as in each of the previous three decades.

Video editor: Pedro Duarte.