Extreme temperature warnings have been issued in both Greece and Cyprus where temperatures are expected to reach well over 40C this week.

The Department of Meteorology in Cyprus said it will reach as high as 44C today, with temperatures of 34C even in the mountains.

Meanwhile, firefighters are tackling a blaze near the popular resort of Paphos, with fears that smoke could affect the nearby airport, according to The Independent.

Specialist firefighting teams have been flown in from Greece and Jordan and some inland villages have been evacuated.

Some roads have been closed, but it is understood that tourist areas have not been affected.

In Greece, the Met Office has warned of temperatures of up to 43C in the eastern Peloponnese and up to 42C in Crete and the Dodecanese islands.

In Athens, where temperatures soared this week, the Acropolis was closed for a second time on Thursday afternoon due to the heat.

In August last year, thousands of tourists had to be evacuated from Rhodes after wildfires broke out in forests in the east of the island, where 28 people died.