At least eight deaths have been recorded as Europe experiences a heatwave that has put municipal and health officials in several countries on alert.
Two people died on the beaches of the Italian Mediterranean island of Sardinia on Wednesday from heat-related illness, health authorities said.
Near the town of Budoni on the east coast, a 75-year-old man suffered a fainting spell from which he did not recover, according to emergency services.
A 60-year-old man also died on a beach near the town of San Teodoro, on the island's east coast.
Temperatures in Sardinia and the neighboring French island of Corsica have exceeded 40 degrees Celsius several times in recent days.
Italy has been experiencing a heat wave for more than a week, and on Wednesday, heat warnings were issued in 18 cities, while power outages were reported in several locations, including Florence and Bergamo.
Homes in Rome also experienced temporary power outages.
In France, at least three people have died during the current heat wave, while more than 300 people have received emergency care from rescue services.
Two deaths were recorded after heat-related complaints, French Environment Minister Agnes Pannier-Runacher said on Wednesday.
France Info reported that a construction worker died while working on a football stadium in Auxerre.
Large parts of France experienced a severe heat wave on Tuesday, with the alert level raised to the highest level in 16 regions, including Paris.
Temperatures exceeded 41 degrees Celsius in southern and central France, while the capital recorded 38 degrees.
Media reported that some areas of France experienced their highest temperatures ever recorded during July.
In Germany, the town of Andernach in the west of the country recorded a temperature of 39.3 degrees Celsius on Wednesday afternoon, making it the highest temperature recorded this year, according to preliminary data issued by the German Meteorological Service.
The town of Tangerhütte Demeker in Saxony came in second place with a temperature of 39.2, followed by the town of Kitzingen in Bavaria with 39.1 degrees.