Spain's 3rd heat wave this summer to affect 30 provinces

By Beyza Binnur Donmez

GENEVA (AA) — Since the beginning of the week, Spain has been facing the third heat wave of this summer, affecting more than 30 of its 50 provinces.

The danger posed by maximum temperatures reaching 38-42C (100.4-107.6F) is "significant in much of the center and east of the Peninsula and in the Balearic Islands," Spain's meteorological agency AEMET warned.

"In areas of Mallorca, Aragon and Catalonia, the danger is extreme due to temperatures of 42 to 44 ," it added.

The heatwave, the agency said, "will affect a large part of the countries bordering the Mediterranean," adding that temperatures are expected to fall by mid-week.

As temperatures rose, wildfires on the Spanish Canary Island of La Palma continue to blaze out of control.

The fires, which began on Saturday, charred at least 3,600 hectares (8,896 acres) of land and forest over the weekend, forcing around 4,200 people to evacuate their homes.

On Sunday night, around 2,000 residents were allowed to return.

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said Monday that new temperature records could be recorded as intense heatwaves grip the southern US, Mediterranean, North Africa, Middle East and some countries in Asia.