MORE than 19,000 people died in a heatwave that baked much of Europe in August, placing it among the worst hot-weather disasters in a century, according to official estimates

At least 50 Parisians have died of heat-related illnesses after a week of record-setting temperatures, a French medical expert says.

EUROPE continued to swelter under a punishing heatwave as Portugal called in NATO to help combat deadly forest fires and France recorded its highest temperatures in more than half a century.

At least one person has died after violent storms swept across south-western France, knocking down trees and causing dozens of injuries.