Heat wave hits Europe, kills 18 in France

Heat wave hits Europe, kills 18 in France

Europe has been hit by a heat wave. In France, the hot weather has claimed the lives of 18 people, including children.

On Monday, a high of 45.1 degrees Celsius was recorded in Jaen, southern Spain, 43.3 degrees in Cher, central France, and 39.5 degrees in Mirandela, northern Portugal.

Reuters news agency reports that at least 18 deaths in France have been blamed on the heat. It says two children aged two and four died after being left in a car in the southeastern part of the country.

In Germany, five people reportedly died in swimming accidents over the weekend.

German weather officials say there are no signs of cooling in the coming days, and warn that temperatures could get close to 40 degrees in some areas.

A British researcher who has been studying the impacts of climate change on extreme weather says, "this year is going to be probably among the warmest on record" because of greenhouse gas emissions.