The Portuguese government has declared an eight-day state of alert due to an increased risk of wildfires as the drought-stricken country braces for a heat wave that reaches 43 degrees Celsius.

The five government departments said in a joint statement that hot weather increases significant deterioration in wildfire risk through July 15, AP reports.

Declaring a state of high alert gives the government a temporary right to take precautionary measures. The restrictions adopted on Friday include a ban on public access to forests deemed at particular risk, a ban on agricultural machinery that can produce sparks, and a ban on fireworks, which are commonly used at summer festivals.

More than 100 people died in fires in 2017.

Heatwaves and droughts are also not uncommon in Portugal, but climate scientists say all of southern Europe can expect higher temperatures and less rainfall as a result of global warming.

The European Commission says climate change has caused the continent to experience one of its worst periods of natural disasters, such as droughts and wildfires.