Balkans Endure Intense Heatwave

The Balkans, along with much of Europe, continued to swelter in a prolonged heatwave.

Temperatures sizzled across the Balkans this week, with most countries in the region, including Croatia, Montenegro, and North Macedonia, expecting temperatures of around 39 degrees Celsius.

In Sarajevo, Bosnia's capital, people rushed to fountains to fill water bottles or wet their necks.

In Podgorica, Montenegro, people avoided the scorching hot pavements, only to bring the city back to life once night fell, filling cafe terraces.

Serbia's public health institute declared dangerous conditions in 10 municipalities. A day earlier, the capital Belgrade recorded its hottest-ever July 16, with a temperature of 38.4°C.

The Adriatic Sea hovered at temperatures around a record-high 29.5°C in several coastal resorts of Croatia.

Meanwhile Spain will experience its first heat wave of the summer starting, the meteorology service AEMET said, as the government kicked off a heat risk awareness campaign for people working mostly outside.

Luis Bañon, an AEMET spokesperson, said his main advice to people is not to underestimate the impact the hot weather can have on one's health because the body is not prepared d to withstand such high temperatures, expected to reach 43-44°C  in some areas of the country, mainly in the Guadalquivir valley of southern Spain.

After the Iberian Peninsula saw cooler than usual weather so far this summer, AEMET expects temperatures to exceed 38 degrees Celsius in most of the country. The peak of this episode will be on Friday, when most areas will warm up to 40 C.

AEMET has issued a heatwave warning for a large part of Spain, including the Balearic islands in the Mediterranean.