Europe wilts under record heat

Lisbon hits 44 C as asphalt melts and police dogs require shoes

MADRID - Europe sweltered on Saturday in intense heat with temperatures hitting record highs in parts of Portugal, while elsewhere the high temperatures exacerbated fires and melted the asphalt on highways.

Here is a roundup:

Spain: 3 dead

In the south, the heat continued to pound the tourist city of Cordoba, reaching 44 C.

In Catalonia in the northeast, a fire on the border with France forced the closure of a highway between both countries for several hours before the blaze was brought under control.

That wasn't the case for a wildfire in San Vicente de Alcantara in the southwest on the border with Portugal, where strong winds and high temperatures were fanning the flames, the regional environment and rural affairs department said.

The soaring mercury has already claimed the lives of three people who died of heatstroke.

Portugal: peak heat, fire

Lisbon broke a 37-year-old record to notch its hottest temperature ever on Saturday. Portugal's weather service said the capital reached 44 C, surpassing the city's previous record of 43 C set in 1981.

In Monchique in the south, a forest fire raged on two fronts, aided by "a temperature of 46 degrees but a real feel of 50 degrees" and very little humidity, Victor Vaz Pinto, head of rescue operations in the district, told local media.

Austria: dogs fitted with shoes

In Vienna, police dogs due to patrol a beach volleyball tournament were fitted with special shoes.

Police said that even if temperatures were not excruciatingly hot, reaching just 34 C on Saturday, the dogs would have to spend hours walking on surfaces exposed to the sun that could easily go over 50 C, and would still need the shoes.

Netherlands: asphalt melting

Authorities closed certain sections of highways where the heat had melted the asphalt.

The central city of Zwolle, meanwhile, started cutting the branches of some 100 poplar trees. Dutch public television NOS explained that branches could break due to the heat and create danger for drivers or passers-by.

France: nuclear reactors close

Four nuclear reactors have been closed due to the heatwave. French power company EDF said the measures were taken to avoid temperature hikes in rivers. The nuclear plants draw water from rivers to cool down the reactors and then return it to the river.

Saturday was also the summer's busiest day on the roads, as July holiday-makers returned home and those who vacation in August departed.

By late morning, about 705 kilometers of traffic jams had been reported, according to France's traffic authorities, as the sun beat down and temperatures soared to 41.3 C at Beziers in the deep south.

Italy: health warnings

Media reported one woman aged 79 had died from apparent heatstroke on a beach in the northwestern Liguria region.

Holiday-makers were expected to face adverse weather conditions.

Sweden: Relief

Following its hottest July in 250 years, rain gave Sweden some respite on Saturday across most of the country.

The mercury fell to more typical summer temperatures of around 20-25 C, weather experts said.

Agence France-presse