BELGRADE — A record-breaking heatwave shifted its grip to the Balkans on Tuesday, pushing temperatures toward 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) and fueling wildfires across the region, as Europe's death toll from more than a week of extreme heat continued to climb.
Serbia's State Hydrometeorological Service warned temperatures would reach 39 C (102 F), while Bosnia and Albania both forecast highs of up to 40 C, according to national weather authorities. Kosovo's weather bureau said temperatures were expected to peak at 38 C.
In Croatia, the national weather service issued red alerts for several regions, including the capital Zagreb and the coastal cities of Split and Dubrovnik. Dozens of firefighters, supported by four aircraft, were battling a wildfire burning through pine forests on the island of Vis, about 55 km (35 miles) southwest of Split, authorities said.
In Bosnia, firefighters said they had largely extinguished a landfill fire near Mostar that had sent smoke over the surrounding area for several days. In Albania, firefighters contained a wildfire that burned through bushes and olive trees near the village of Klos over the weekend.
The World Health Organization said more than 1,300 excess deaths have been recorded across Europe since June 21, including roughly 1,000 in France, where the national public health agency said most victims were aged 65 and over. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the figures were expected to rise as more data is collected.
The World Weather Attribution group of scientists said the heatwave, which began June 20, would have been "virtually impossible" without human-caused climate change. Forecasters said a storm front could bring some relief to the Balkans from Tuesday night, though temperatures were expected to remain elevated. Authorities continued to monitor wildfire risk across the region as the heat persisted.
