Spain heats up under first heatwave of the year as southern Europe swelters

A crowded beach on the Costa Blanca, Spain (Alamy/PA)

Spain sweated under its first official heatwave of the year, with temperatures expected to reach 40C in a large swathe of the country on Thursday, while Italy, Greece and other areas of southern Europe also struggled to stay cool.

After a relatively bearable spring compared with record heat in 2023 and 2022, millions of Spaniards will be sweltering at least until Saturday before feeling any relief.