Italy limited work outdoors, France shut schools and Turkey battled wildfires on Tuesday in a European heatwave that meteorologists said was "exceptional" for striking so early this year.

Weather warnings have been issued across Europe, as a heat dome pushes temperatures above 40C in the south of the continent.

Europe is grappling with a severe heatwave, resulting in fatalities in Italy and prompting red alerts across multiple countries. Wildfires have triggered mass evacuations in Turkey and Greece, while France has closed schools and the Eiffel Tower due to safety concerns.