Western Europe is in the grip of a deadly, record-setting heatwave that has played a role in the deaths of dozens of people, closed schools, slowed trains, knocked out electricity and forced farmers to harvest grain at night.
At least 48 people have died in France from drowning as they attempted to seek respite from the crippling heat.
Two children were killed by heat in a car, authorities said.
The recorded temperature peaked at 44.3 degrees Celsius in the southwestern town of Pissos.
In Britain, on course for its hottest June day ever, the Met Office weather service issued only the second extreme-heat weather warning in history.
Hundreds of schools stayed shut or closed early, as high temperatures could place even healthy people at risk.
Italy’s Health Ministry issued its highest heat alert for 16 cities, from Florence and Milan to Rome, Turin and Verona.
The rare weather pattern is known as an Omega block. It resembles the shape of the Greek letter Omega, with a bulbous middle trapping in intensifying heat, hovering over regions for extended periods, with cooler weather on its fringe.
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