Europe is experiencing an unprecedented heatwave,with temperatures reaching as high as 42 degrees Celsius in many areas. In southern Britain, the mercury is expected to reach 31°C today, while forecasters are predicting even higher temperatures on Monday, with highs of up to 34°C in central and eastern parts of England – levels that could break June records for the country. These temperatures are unusual for the country.

At the same time, health authorities remain on alert in many European countries. Ambulances are on standby near popular tourist destinations in Spain, Portugal and France, while in Italy special “heatstroke pathways” have been set up in hospitals to deal immediately with cases of citizens suffering from the extreme heat

Spain’s national weather service, Aemet, has issued a special warning as mercury is expected to climb to 42 degrees Celsius in the south of the country in the coming days.

At the same time, tourists at the Vatican were trying to protect themselves from the heat with umbrellas and pouring water on their faces from fountains as temperatures reached 37C.

In Rome, civilians were receiving care at a Red Cross emergency site, where a fan was operating to provide relief from the heat.

Temperatures of up to 43 degrees Celsius are expected in parts of southern Spain and Portugal, while almost all of France is affected by heat that is forecast to last several days.

Meanwhile, areas in southeast England could reach 35°C on Tuesday, according to meteorologist Matthew Lenhardt – temperatures higher than even Barbados.

21 cities in Italy hit by extreme temperatures

In Italy, 21 cities are on high alert for extreme temperatures, including Milan, Naples, Venice, Florence and Rome.

“We were about to visit the Colosseum, but my mum nearly fainted, said British tourist Anna Becker, who travelled to Rome from “hot and muggy” Verona.

Emergency departments at hospitals across Italy have reported an increase in heatstroke cases, according to Mario Guarino, vice president of the Italian Society of Emergency Medicine.

“We have seen an increase of about 10%, mainly in cities that have higher humidity levels in addition to very high temperatures. These are mainly elderly, oncology patients or homeless people, who experience dehydration, heat stroke, fatigue,”he said.

In Venice, local authorities offer free guided tours for people over 75 in air-conditioned museums and public buildings.

Bologna has set up seven “climate shelters” with air conditioning and drinking water, Florence has invited doctors to report lonely and vulnerable citizens, Ancona distributes dehumidifiers to those in need, while Rome provides free access to municipal swimming pools for people over 70.

In Portugal, several areas in the southern half of the country, including the capital Lisbon, are on a red alert for heatwaves until Monday night, according to the Portuguese Institute of Sea and Atmosphere.

Two-thirds of Portugal was on a high alert today because of extreme temperatures and the risk of forest fires, as was the Italian island of Sicily, where firefighters battled 15 outbreaks on Saturday.