Madrid: Authorities in southern European countries have warned of the risk of wildfires, after temperatures exceeded 40 degrees Celsius in Spain, Portugal, Italy, and Greece.

According to Qatar News Agency, meteorologists in these countries have warned that the severity of heat waves could impact daily life, particularly for the elderly, children, and other vulnerable groups.

In Portugal, authorities issued a high alert in two-thirds of the country on Sunday to combat extreme heat and wildfires, with temperatures expected to exceed 42 degrees Celsius.

In Italy, the Ministry of Health issued a red alert in 21 of the 27 cities, including Rome, Milan, and Naples.

In Greece, emergency measures were put in place to prevent wildfires after a large blaze broke out south of Athens last Thursday. Authorities were forced to evacuate residents and close roads, while strong winds contributed to the spread of the flames and damage to homes.

In southern Spain, temperatures exceeded seasonal averages, prompting authorities to issue public health and safety warnings.

Experts warn that such extreme weather events are occurring with increasing frequency in southern Europe, amid clear signs of the worsening effects of climate change.