Southern Europe swelters under deadly heatwave as temperatures pass 40C

Four-year-old boy dies of heatstroke in Italy as scientists warn of molotov cocktail' of climatic conditions

Deadly heat of up to 44C is searing southern Europe, as scientists warn of a molotov cocktail" of climatic conditions that is fuelling vast wildfires across the Mediterranean.

In Italy, where temperatures of 40C are expected in Florence later this week, a four-year-old boy died of heatstroke, and a red alert warning was issued for seven major cities, including Bologna and Florence.