A searing heatwave which is gripping much of Spain has seen many cultural venues in the capital Madrid transform into temporary rest areas, allowing residents to escape the worst of the sizzling temperatures and seek some respite indoors. The extreme weather has prompted the Spanish State Meteorological Agency (AEMET) to issue a series of warnings, with temperatures in some places expected to exceed 42 degrees Celsius on Tuesday, according to the agency. While people have been advised to stay indoors, outdoor workers in Madrid such as postal workers, deliverymen and traffic police, find it difficult to avoid the raging daytime temperatures and can only take measures to protect themselves. "I just got off work. It's incredibly hot today, so I need to drink lots of water. I don't think it was normally this hot, but it's getting hotter every year. I personally don't think this is normal, but what can I do? I just have to take care of myself," said Juan, a local resident. In response, the city's government has created some "green cultural spaces" to allow people to guard against the heat, with many cultural venues now becoming welcome indoor sanctuaries which provide ample room for residents to rest and get some relief from the blazing sunshine. "Madrid experienced a severe heat wave this week, with temperatures reaching between 38 to 40 degrees Celsius. As a result, the afternoons and weekends are the peak hours for us, with the number of visitors reaching around 1,000 to 1,200 people. This also reflects the real need for 'climate shelters' for the public," said Santiago Hernandez, head of strategic and editorial development at Madrid's Circulo de Bellas Artes, or the Circle of Fine Arts, a long-running cultural institution based in the heart of the Spanish capital. In these urban oases, there are also a number of entertainment options on offer, with many choosing to take a nap, enjoy a good book, or even play chess, while others are bringing their laptops to get some work done while escaping the intense summer heat. "It's terrible. I can't adapt to it at all. I'm not from Spain, I came here to study. This kind of heat is completely new to me, completely different from where I live in Latin America," said a Peruvian student named Raquel. The latest heat wave has already resulted in a number of facilities so far this month, according to media reports. Spain's environment ministry reported in mid-July that high temperatures had caused well over 1,100 deaths across the nation over the previous two months, a sharp increase from last year, with senior residents being most vulnerable. SHOTLIST: Madrid, Spain - Recent (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland) 1. Various of outdoor dining area, cooling fan in operation 2. Street view 3. Various of bicycle couriers 4. Various of traffic, pedestrians 5. People drinking from public water fountain 6. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Juan, resident (full name not given) (starting with shot 4): "I just got off work. It's incredibly hot today, so I need to drink lots of water. I don't think it was normally this hot, but it's getting hotter every year. I personally don't think this is normal, but what can I do? I just have to take care of myself." 7. Various of people going upstairs, resting, using laptops in cultural venue to escape heat 8. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Santiago Hernandez, head, strategic and editorial development, Madrid's Circulo de Bellas Artes: "Madrid experienced a severe heat wave this week, with temperatures reaching between 38 to 40 degrees Celsius. As a result, the afternoons and weekends are the peak hours for us, with the number of visitors reaching around 1,000 to 1,200 people. This also reflects the real need for 'climate shelters' for the public." 9. Various of people resting indoors, playing chess, using mobile phone, reading 10. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Raquel, Peruvian student (full name not given): "It's terrible. I can't adapt to it at all. I'm not from Spain, I came here to study. This kind of heat is completely new to me, completely different from where I live in Latin America." 11. Various of pedestrians, traffic, buildings [Restrictions: No access Chinese mainland]