In pictures: Europe's June 2019 heatwave Published duration 27 June 2019 Related Topics Europe heatwaves

image copyright Reuters image caption Temperatures reached 40C in parts of southern France on Thursday

People across Europe are searching for ways to keep cool amid soaring temperatures.

A heatwave - caused by a plume of hot air from the Sahara, according to meteorologists - is sweeping parts of the continent, with Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic seeing their highest ever June temperatures on Wednesday, and intense heat in the southwest on Thursday.

As temperatures topped 40C (104F) in some parts of northern Spain, the region of Catalonia's worst wildfires in 20 years seemed likely to spread rapidly.

It looks likely it will get hotter still, with possible record temperatures in France in the coming days.

image copyright AFP image caption The fire near the Catalan town of La Torre de l'Espanyol has already affected at least 4,000 hectares (10,000 acres)

image copyright AFP image caption Firefighters have been battling the blazes since Wednesday

image copyright EPA image caption Forecasts of 40C+ temperatures in northern Italy were not quite realised, but people and animals alike still needed to cool off

image copyright AFP image caption A child cools off under a fountain in Montpellier, southern France

image copyright Google image caption The Spanish capital Madrid avoided the hotter temperatures further north

image copyright AFP image caption An animal keeper ensures South American tapir "Bambou" is protected from the rays in Germany

image copyright AFP image caption A jaguar took a plunge in a pool in Bordeaux-Pessac zoo in southwestern France on Wednesday

image copyright EPA image caption A man takes a picturesque sunset dip in Lake Geneva

image copyright AFP image caption In Rome, umbrellas proved a popular way to hide from the soaring temperatures

image copyright AFP image caption In the French Riviera city of Nice, temperatures hit 33C on Monday

image copyright AFP image caption A polar bear cools down with frozen fruit at Hannover Zoo in Germany

image copyright DPA image caption Like many in Europe, this man in the German city of Straubing went for a swim on Wednesday as temperatures continued to rise

image copyright EPA image caption A young boy puts a fountain to good use in Hungary

image copyright AFP image caption A couple swim past a model boat at the Schwarzachtal lakes in southern Germany

image copyright EPA image caption The Prague public soak up the sun