Temperatures in Austria rose above 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) on Thursday for the first time since records began in the mid 19th century, the meteorological office ZAMG said.

At Neusiedl am See the temperature reached 40.6 degrees Celsius, although the ZAMG said this had to be double checked, while in Bad Deutsch Altenburg, also in eastern Austria, the mercury hit a confirmed 40.5 degrees.

Prior to records set in the current heatwave, Austria's previous high temperature of 39.7 degrees was set some 30 years ago.

The capital Vienna was sweltering in temperatures of up to 39.5 degrees, the highest since 1957.

No extra deaths from the heatwave were reported although hospitals saw a rise in patients with dehydration and blood circulation problems.