Dhaka, June 30 -- Southern Europe is sweltering under severe heatwaves, with temperatures soaring above 40degC (104degF) across Italy, Spain, Greece, and Portugal, prompting fresh warnings from local authorities about the heightened risk of wildfires.

Climate experts have linked the rising frequency and intensity of such extreme heat events to climate change, cautioning that southern Europe is becoming increasingly vulnerable to these conditions.

In Portugal, nearly two-thirds of the country was under high alert for extreme heat and wildfires on Sunday, with temperatures in Lisbon expected to exceed 42degC (107degF).

Italian authorities are also grappling with the heat, with several regions - including Lazio, Tuscany, Calabria, Puglia,...