Pakistan, Aug. 12 -- A young boy died of heatstroke in Italy as extreme temperatures and fierce wildfires swept across Europe, forcing thousands to evacuate and breaking long-standing heat records in several countries. Many cities in France, Italy, and the Balkans were placed on red alert as the unrelenting heatwave intensified. Authorities warned residents to stay indoors, while firefighters faced dangerous conditions trying to control multiple blazes in tourist hotspots and rural areas.

In Italy, the four-year-old Romanian boy died days after being found unconscious in a car on the island of Sardinia. The health ministry issued red alerts for several major cities, including Bologna and Florence, with even more regions expected to face ...