The second phenomenon of its kind, in just one month in Europe, also resulted in violent fires in the Iberian Peninsula and France.
The multiplication of heat waves is a direct consequence of global warming, according to scientists, with greenhouse gas emissions increasing in intensity, duration and frequency.
In France, the map turned ‘red’ across much of the Atlantic coast, with 15 departments on alert for the heat wave.
Temperature records were broken in several cities: 39.5 degrees Celsius (39.5°C) in Saint-Brieuc, 42°C in Nantes or 42.6°C in Biscarosse, according to data from Météo France.
