Rome, Aug 9 : The most severe heat wave in recent memory has held its grip on most of Europe, with record high temperatures registered in multiple countries causing severe economic and health damage. The spell of unusually hot and dry weather has caused wildfires in Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, Greece and elsewhere, reports Xinhua news agency. In Spain, more than 4,000 hectares of land has been burnt in wildfires, while across Europe tens of thousands have been forced to flee their homes, media reports said. The heat and lack of water has reportedly caused many deaths across Europe, either through heat stroke or other means. Many countries have reported temperatures of over 40 degrees Celsius, including Portugal, which recorded a new high of 47 degrees Celsius. In Italy, 19 cities were on red alert as of Monday, meaning the temperature and weather conditions were so severe and long lasting they could impact the well-being of healthy individuals. The Institute of Atmosphere and Climate Science of Italy's National Research Council said last week that this year is on pace to be the hottest and driest year on record dating back to 1800. Temperatures in the country for the period between January and July were 0.98 degrees Celsius above average for the period starting in 1800, while in July average temperatures were 2.26 degrees Celsius above normal, according to the institute. Though there is no comprehensive data available yet, the hot and dry weather is estimated in media reports to have caused billions of euros in losses from agricultural production in the worst-hit European countries. In Greece, France, and Italy, the weather is expected to reduce the production of olive oil, leading to a surge in prices. In France, the 2022 wine production is expected to suffer in terms of quantity and quality, while Italy is expected to also see the production of corn and animal feed decrease. The weather-related developments in Europe come amid already significant pressure on world food prices due to increases in fuel prices and other supply chain issues intensified by the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Another economic area being hit hard in Europe is tourism, which is struggling to recover from the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic. Despite the hot and dry weather, reports are that this summer is the strongest for tourism in Europe since 2019. /IANS