Temperature records broken in several European cities

June temperature records were broken in Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands on Friday. Extreme weather has already caused dozens of deaths in Western Europe.

The highest temperature in German history was recorded in the German city of Saarbrücken, which is located near the border with France - 41.3°C. In the Dutch province of Limburg, the temperature record was 39.4°C.

According to the BBC, Belgian weather forecasters unofficially reported that the country recorded a temperature of 40°C. Temperature records were also broken in the UK and France in June.

At least 150 million people in Europe experienced temperatures above 35C on Friday, according to AFP estimates.

On Saturday, Denmark recorded its hottest day on record in more than 150 years. According to The Guardian, the thermometer reached 36.6°C.

In France, dozens of people died during a heat wave. The high temperatures disrupted rail services and power generation, suspended school operations and postponed public outdoor events.

The French Prime Minister's Office said that although the heat wave is subsiding, pressure on the health system will remain and hospitalizations will remain high for several days.

The Italian Ministry of Health has declared a red heat alert for 18 Italian cities, including Milan, Rome, Turin, Venice and Florence. Temperatures are expected to rise to 39°C in some areas.

Forecasters say hot weather will spread to central and eastern Europe this weekend, including Poland and the Balkans. Czech meteorologists believe the 2012 temperature record of 40.4°C could be broken on Saturday.