ROME – Southern Europe is enduring an unprecedented heatwave as Spain and Portugal reported record temperatures on June 30, while Italy and France prepare for several more days of sweltering conditions. The intense heat has triggered health and wildfire warnings across the Mediterranean region and Britain.

Authorities along the northern Mediterranean coast are urging residents to take shelter and safeguard vulnerable populations as temperatures climb. In France, 84 out of 96 mainland departments were placed on the second-highest “orange” heat alert, a situation French Ecology Transition Minister Agnes Pannier-Runacher described as “unprecedented.”

Emergency services remain on high alert, with ambulances stationed at tourist hotspots and firefighters battling blazes fueled by the heat and strong winds. Wildfires have already broken out in France, Italy, and Turkey. To help residents cope, cities are offering free access to swimming pools in Marseille and air-conditioned museum tours for elderly visitors in Venice.

On June 28, southern Spain experienced a new June temperature record, soaring to 46°C, according to the national meteorological agency. Visitors like Agathe Lacombe from Strasbourg found adapting to the heat challenging. “You have to plan your day around the cooler morning hours and stay indoors during the hottest times,” she said. Her daughter-in-law, Valentine Jung, added, “Thankfully, we booked a place with air-conditioning — we didn’t expect it to be this hot!”

Portugal also recorded a new June high of 46.6°C in Mora on June 29. Several central and southern regions, including Lisbon, remained under red alerts with fire warnings in forested areas.

In Italy, flames tore through pine forests near Naples, prompting locals to flee to the sea for safety. The mayor of Cellole, Guido di Leone, described the scene as terrifying, with towering flames and thick smoke surrounding the town.

France’s heatwave is expected to peak on July 1 and 2, while Italy faces sustained high temperatures through the week and beyond. Eighteen Italian cities, including Milan, Verona, Rome, Perugia, and Palermo, are under red alert. Experts warn that climate change, combined with urban heat island effects, is intensifying these extreme conditions, especially in cities like Florence and Bologna, which have seen relentless daily highs.

With school terms ending early across the region, some summer camps have been subsidized to provide relief and cooling for children.

Croatia’s coastline and Montenegro also face severe heat alerts, while Serbia battles extreme drought. In Madrid, temperatures neared 40°C, with residents expressing concern over the increasing heat levels year after year.

Meanwhile, Britain’s Met Office issued amber heat warnings for seven English regions as Wimbledon tennis matches kicked off amid what is shaping up to be the hottest start to the tournament on record.

Londoner Sean Tipper, attending Wimbledon with family, shared, “Wimbledon is always sweaty when it’s hot. This time, we came prepared with hats, sunglasses, a mini fan, and plenty of water.”

As the heatwave continues, southern Europe confronts the growing challenges of climate change and the urgent need for adaptive measures to protect communities and ecosystems.