A heat wave has stricken Spain in the past two days with the temperatures running over 40 degrees centigrade in the capital city and other cities, the National Observatory said Sunday.

Sunday's temperature in Madrid, Castilla-La Mancha, Extre Madura and Andalucia exceeded 40 degrees centigrade, the highest reaching 42 degrees.

The Spanish Health Ministry has issued an urgent appeal to the whole country, calling on people to avoid sunstroke and publicizing first-aid phone numbers of the Red Cross.

Last August, hot weather also hit the country, claiming more than 200 lives.

Source: Xinhua