As the effects of climate change get severe around the world, southern Europe is also facing a heatwave, posing severe health risks to people of old age and those with underlying health conditions, The Guardian reported.

Hot weather has already hit several countries, as local media reported tourists collapsing in Greece and Italy, while the death of an outdoor worker near Milan was also reported by the media. Temperatures are likely to hit 42 degrees Celsius in Athens today (Saturday), Seville is expected to recorded a temperate of 41 degrees Celsius on Monday while 40 degrees Celsius temperature is expected in Rome on Tuesday.

The hot air was brought to Europe by an area of high pressure called Cerberus, named after a three-headed dog from Dante Alighieri’s poem Inferno, from Africa.

Warm air, which holds more moisture than cold air, can lead to hot and dry conditions in some areas, and heavy rains and flash floods in others.

The warming climate makes these extremes stronger and more common, Alvaro Silva from the World Meteorological Organisation said. “By 2050, about half of the European population may face high or very high risk of heat stress in summer.”

Since the Industrial Revolution, earth has warmed 1.2 degrees Celsius because of heat-trapping gases released by burning of fossil fuels, and the destruction of nature. Temperatures have surged nearly twice as fast in Europe.

El Niño is expected to push temperatures even higher this year. It is a naturally occurring weather pattern that has returned in Europe after a three-year break. The first few days of July were the hottest scientists have ever recorded.

Scientists can assess the size of the role that the climate crisis plays only after an extreme weather event is over. A study from the World Weather Attribution in May found climate breakdown made hot temperatures in Spain, Portugal, Morocco and Algeria at least 100 times more likely in the previous month.

Doctors, scientists and officials have advised the people across Europe to take extra care of their health in the scorching heat.

People in Spain were told near wildfires to stay indoors and shut windows by the Red Cross.

Volunteers provided water bottles at tourist in Greece sites while the authorities took the unusual step of briefly closing the Acropolis to “protect” visitors.

The decision to shut the country’s top tourist site for five hours from midday came as the government announced contingency measures to cope with the extreme temperatures.

Amid scorching heat, people in construction and the delivery sector were banned from working in Greece during the hottest hours of the day.

In Athens, employees in the public and private sector were encouraged to work remotely as the temperatures remained high even at night due to urban heat islands.