Heat across Europe sparks scramble for shade

Soaring temperatures also reported in South Asia, with 50 C seen in India

PARIS - Fans flew off store shelves and water fountains offered relief from the heat as temperatures soared in Europe on Monday, with officials urging vigilance ahead of even hotter conditions forecast later in the week.

Meteorologists blamed a blast of torrid air from the Sahara Desert for the unusually early summer heat wave, which could send thermometers up to 40 C across large swaths of the continent. France is experiencing particularly hot temperatures.