Just days after the lockdown ended and European travel restrictions were lifted, many were staying home in the cool Tuesday as a heatwave hit the continent with temperatures touching 40 degrees Celcius.

In some areas, the mercury was even seen topping 41 degrees Celcius, such as Seville in southern Spain where people were cooling off in fountains or taking a dip in the Guadalquivir River, an AFPTV correspondent said.


Elsewhere in southern and western areas, temperatures have hovered around 40 degrees since Sunday, and by Tuesday nine regions were on high alert for the heat which was expected to last until Thursday.

France was also experiencing its first heatwave with temperatures in the mid-30s expected to last until Thursday, Meteo-France said.

Even the Nordic countries were expecting temperatures above 30 degrees this week, with Sweden’s SMHI forecaster saying the hottest days would be Wednesday and Thursday and warning of the increased risk of forest fires.