Southeastern Europe baked in searing temperatures yesterday, with nearly 30 deaths blamed on the heat in recent days across the region.

Electricity supplies, particularly in Greece and Albania, were straining to keep up with demand as air conditioning use spiked during the year's first major heat wave.

Temperatures reached 40 C in Athens yesterday, with a top recorded temperature of 45 C on the island of Rhodes, according to state NET television.

The heat in Athens, exacerbated by high humidity and pollution levels, had tourists and residents scurrying for shade and guzzling cold water. Many abandoned the city for local beaches.

Meteorologists said this could be the warmest June in 90 years and that Greece is on track for the hottest summer in a quarter century - adding fuel to global warming fears.