‘Hellishly hot’ southern Europe bakes under heatwave with worst still to come

A sizzling heatwave has sent temperatures in parts of central and southern Europe soaring toward 40C (104F) in some places (Luca Bruno/AP)

The Italian health ministry placed 12 cities under the most severe heat warning on Tuesday as a wave of hot air from Africa baked southern Europe and sent temperatures over 40C (104F), with the worst still to come.

Municipal authorities in several southern European and Balkan cities took measures to look after elderly people in particular as civil protection crews fielded calls for Canadairs and other aircraft to douse wildfires that raged in southern Italy and North Macedonia.