Heatwave sends Balkan temperatures close to 40C

A heatwave across Europe has pushed temperatures in parts of the Balkans close to 40C.

Authorities across the region have urged people to avoid the sun during the hottest hours of the day. Elderly people, children and those with chronic illnesses have been advised to drink more fluids and limit outdoor activity.

In Tirana, people cooled off near the fountains in Skanderbeg Square. In Pristina, residents used umbrellas and cold drinks to cope with the heat.

In Skopje, some people put their feet in the Vardar River as temperatures remained high.