By Hannah Ahmed
UK tourists flying to Spain, Portugal, Greece or Italy have been warned as heatwaves sweep southern Europe. The risk of wildfires has been reported in multiple areas of Europe already, with Greece and Turkey experiencing disruption due to the flames. High temperatures of over 40C have been recorded, with some experts associating the growing number of the heatwaves to climate change. In Greece, a high alert regarding wildfires was issued as the heatwave continued through the weekend. In recent weeks, areas of the country have faced wildfires which have forced residents to evacuate. READ MORE: 19 counties in England set to miss out on next UK heatwave as Met Office speak out Chios faced flames which ripped through an estimated 40,000 hectares in recent weeks, with one woman charged with unintentional arson, the Guardian said. But this island has not been the only one which has been impacted, as a wildfire in Athens on Thursday meant residents and tourists were evacuated, with roads closed near to the Temple of Poseidon. Smoke could be seen as the fire blazed. Over the weekend, parts of Portugal were on high alert for extreme heat and wildfires, as temperatures were expected to reach a sweltering 42C in Lisbon. In Italy, many areas felt the full impact of the heat, with regions such as Lazio, Tuscany, Calabria, Puglia and Umbria planning to axe outdoor working when the day was at its hottest, due to the scorching weather. On Sunday, the Italian health ministry had heat alerts in place for 21 out of 27 cities it monitored, with hotspots such as Rome, Milan and Naples but a few of those impacted by the temperatures, the Liverpool Echo reported. UK tourists certainly felt the heat over recent days, as holidaymakers were spotted using umbrellas and using the public fountains in a bid to reduce the impact of the weather. READ MORE: Exact time temperatures will reach over 30C in Birmingham today Local authorities stressed the importance of drinking enough water, and urged individuals to be aware of how high temperatures can effect those who are elderly and young. In the UK, another heatwave is still sweeping the nation, with temperatures expected to run higher than 30C over the next few days. The NHS recommends keeping out of the sun between 11am and 3pm if you can, as these times are when the day is hottest usually, in addition to keeping cool by drinking fluids or even having a cold shower. If you can keep your windows shut during the day, and open at night, this is advisable for keeping cool, and an electric fan could be helpful as long as it is below 35C, according to the health body.