AG百家乐在线官网

Alan McGuinness, news reporter

:: Greece

The country is currently battling its deadliest wildfires in decades, with at least 79 people dead and an unknown number missing.

Two separate forest fires broke out either side of the capital, Athens, on Monday, and have been fanned by gale-force winds that are hampering the efforts of firefighters.

More than 280 firefighters are battling the blaze to the northeast of the city, near the coastal town of Rafina, dousing the remaining flames to stop any flare-ups.

Another 200 firefighters, supported by a water-dropping helicopter, are tackling the second forest fire west of the capital, near Agioi Theodori.

Flags across Greece have been flying at half-mast, with three days of national mourning declared.

:: Sweden

The Nordic nation is experiencing an unprecedented drought and the highest temperatures in a century, with an almost total absence of rain since the beginning of May.

Dozens of wildfires have hit the country as temperatures soar as high as 35C (95F). Usually, summer temperatures are closer to 23C (73.4).

Around 62,000 acres (25,000 hectares) - an area twice the size of Paris - has already gone up in smoke or continues to burn.

A number of fellow European countries, including France, Italy and Germany, have dispatched planes, trucks and firefighters to help.

:: Rest of Europe

In Finland's northernmost province of Lapland, fires have ravaged woods and grassland near the border with Russia.

The average July temperature in Finland is about 18C (64.4F), but the mercury has topped 30C (86F) in places.

Norway, which earlier this year experienced its highest May temperatures on record, has also been hit by a number of small fires. One firefighter was killed earlier in July while trying to contain one of the blazes.

Fires have raged for five days in Latvia, destroying more than 1,900 acres (800 hectares). No rain is expected in the country for the next two weeks.

A national state of disaster was declared in the country's farming sector in June. Latvia has also asked for an early payment of agricultural subsidies from the EU in order to cope.

Poland has also sought financial help from Brussels after more than 90,000 farms were affected by drought.

The extreme weather also brought flash floods in the Tatra mountains on the Polish-Slovak border.

Rescue workers said about 300 people had to be led to safety from a village on the Slovakia side last week.

Meanwhile, food producers in Germany have warned this year's harvest will be down by between 20% and 50% after droughts in May and June.

:: Japan

Japan has been coping with a blistering heatwave for two weeks, with at least 80 people killed and thousands more rushed to hospital.

People have been told to stay indoors to avoid temperatures of more than 40C (104F) in some areas.

A record temperature of 41.1C (105.9F) was recorded in the city of Kumagaya on Monday.

The heatwave has raised fears for the safety of athletes and spectators at the 2020 Olympics in the city.

In bid documents, the city described the months of July and August as "having many days of mild and sunny weather" that "provide an ideal climate for athletes to perform".

:: United States

A heatwave across the southwest has seen recorded temperatures in California's Death Valley and Palm Springs.

According to the National Weather Service, a new high of 52.7C (127F) has been set at Death Valley, beating the previous high of 52C (116F) set in 1916.

In Palm Springs, a new high of 49.4C (121F) was recorded.

Arizona and parts of California, Utah and Nevada remain under an excessive heat warning, with forecasters saying this week could be the region's hottest of the year.

In California, power grid operators have called for people to try and cut back on using air conditioners or other appliances during peak times of 5pm to 9pm.

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health has urged people to keep out of the sun.

"When temperatures are high, even a few hours of exertion may cause severe dehydration, heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke," said Dr Jeffrey Gunzenhauser, the county's interim health officer.

Elsewhere, the fire danger at Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming has been raised to a high ranking for the first time this year.

It comes after lightning sparked the first wildfire of the season near Yellowstone. No special restrictions have been placed on campfires at the park so far.