Austria hits record temps, wildfires in Greece, Albania as Europe feels heat

Austria has experienced record temperatures, issuing a heat alert and setting a new high near the border with Slovakia. Hungary has been urged to reduce power usage due to a severe drought, impacting the capital's energy grid. Moldova anticipates temperatures reaching 38C on Thursday, with no rain expected. Italy's major cities are under a red heat alert, with temperatures reaching around 40C in some areas.

The Vatican moved Pope Leo's weekly audience indoors due to the extreme heat. Wildfires in Albania's southern region of Mallakaster forced the evacuation of 15 families and their pets, while firefighters battled another blaze in southern Albania. Greece faced a wildfire near Athens, with efforts to control it continuing. Moldova's President urged residents to conserve electricity and water during peak hours, fearing a potential catastrophe if water supplies ran out in Chișinău.

The EU-based Copernicus Climate Change Service predicts August will be the peak of the fire season in Europe. The abnormal heat conditions have impacted agriculture, with Britain's cereal harvest expected to be the worst since 1984.