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.

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.

More than a thousand schools were closed in France on Tuesday and the top floor of the Eiffel Tower was shut to tourists as a severe heatwave continued to grip Europe, triggering health alerts across the region.