Great Britain recorded its hottest day of the year so far, when temperatures reached 36.3C (97.3F) near London's Gatwick airport and in Italy, farm union officials said the country was being ravaged by one of the worst droughts in decades.
The heatwave forced France's energy company, EDF, to scale back electricity generation at some of its nuclear power stations and the company requested its major clients to limit their electricity use.
The intense heat has caused a series of health warnings and officials are urging people to stay in the shade and to make sure they drink plenty of water.
Another heatwave in the summer of 2003 killed some 20,000 people across Europe as a result of heatstroke and dehydration.
