Europe swelters as a heatwave causes wildfires, leading to evacuations, extreme heat warnings and fatalities

Wildfires are causing damage to much of southern Europe.

France, Spain and the UK have issued red alerts and extreme health warnings because of the soaring temperatures.

Hundreds of firefighters in Portugal, Spain, Italy and France were tackling multiple blazes on Monday.

The heatwave is pushing temperatures well above 40 degrees celsius, with Spain recording a high of 46 degrees.

According to Maroš Šefčovič, the European Commission’s vice-president for inter-institutional relations, the droughts and prolonged heatwave on the continent “could become the worst ever.”

Water bombing aircraft criss cross the skies above southwestern France, Spain and Portugal, with the EU taking other measures to assist fires in other countries.

Fires in the southwestern region of France have now spread over 14,800 hectares.

In southern Europe there were some signs conditions were starting to ease following hundreds of heat realated deaths across multiple countries.

But the heatwave is sweeping northwards, leaving even the traditionally colder countries of northern Europe dangerously exposed.

In the UK, train companies have urged people not to travel, as the heat causes overhead wires to sag and railway tracks to buckle.

Train company LNER went as far as to cancel services between York and London on Tuesday because of the heat.

While no UK-wide heat record has been set, Wales broke its own highest ever recorded temperature.

Hawarden in Wales reached 37.1 degrees celsius.

Luton Airport, north of London, was temporarily closed to flights as faults were detected in the runway because of the extreme heat.

But a spokesperson for the airport later confirmed all flights had resumed.

Tuesday is set to bring even higher temperatures to the United Kingdom.

The Met Office – the UK’s national weather service – predicts temperates that could reach 40 degrees celsius.

If that occurs, it will be the highest temperature in the United Kingdom since records began.