(MENAFN- AFP) Spain remained locked in a heat wave on Tuesday with most of the country on high alert for forest fires and the elderly urged to take extra care.
Spain's national weather office put 40 of the nation's 50 provinces on either "yellow" or "orange" alert due to the scorching temperatures which are forecast to dip on Wednesday before rising again at the weekend.
The highest temperatures were expected to be recorded in the central province of Toledo where the mercury was forecast to rise to 41 degrees Celsius (105.8 Fahrenheit).
In the Spanish capital Madrid temperatures were expected to soar to 39 degrees Celsius prompting local officials to recommend people remain in the shade and drink plenty of liquids.
"The excessive heat can harm people's health, especially if they are elderly, chronically ill or children," the regional government of Madrid said in a statement.
Emergency services said they have treated 30 people for heatstroke in the Madrid region since the heatwave began on Thursday.
Nearly all of Spain faced an "extreme", "very high" or "high" risk of forest blazes on Tuesday, according to the nation's weather office.
Nightime temperatures in many cities remained well above 20 degrees Celsius, making sleep difficult. In Madrid night temperatures were forecast to remain at 26 degrees Celsius against an average of 16 degrees for the time of the year.
Newspapers offered tips on how to sleep in the heat, including eating a light dinner, turning off all electrical devices and "sleep alone (if this does not cause a problem)."
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