The Balkans and most of central and southern Europe continued to suffer in a prolonged heatwave, with temperatures breaking highest-ever records.

In Serbia, the Rusanda salt lake in Melenci, located in the northern province of Vojvodina, dried out.

"I don't know what to say. This is scary how warm it is, really scary," said local resident Darko Murgud.

Temperatures were sizzling across the Balkans this week, with most countries in the region expecting temperatures of around 39 degrees Celsius (102 Fahrenheit).

The Serbian capital Belgrade recorded its hottest-ever on July 16, with a temperature of 40°C (104°F).

"Such heatwaves would almost not exist if it were not for climate change," said Dr. Vladimir Djurdjevic, a Belgrade-based meteorologist.

The temperature of the Adriatic Sea in Croatia hovered around a record-high 29.5°C in several coastal resorts. North Macedonia and Albania both deployed firefighters, airplanes, and helicopters this week to fight forest fires in their countries. - Report from Reuters