Romania declared an emergency today as the death toll of a week-long heat wave climbed to 18.
Romanian Health Minister Eugen Nicolaescu said three Romanians had died in the last 24 hours and urged people to cancel outdoor travel in the hottest part of the day.
"Code Red will be enforced for July 24th in five southern counties and in the capital Bucharest," he said. The government also banned outdoor work, including construction, in the hottest hours.
Greece has declared a state of emergency, forecasting temperatures of 45 degrees in southeast Europe.
Meteorologists forecast three days of rising temperatures in the region's second heat wave this year. In June, more than 35 people died in Romania, Turkey and Greece when the mercury shot up to 46 degrees.
A heat wave in 1987 caused hundreds of deaths in the Greek capital and authorities have since been taking measures to protect the most vulnerable and elderly.
