Italy places all major cities on red alert

Italy will place all 27 of its major cities, from Trieste in the north to Palermo in the south, under the highest-level heat alert as the country's fourth heatwave of the summer intensifies, The Guardian reported.

A red heat alert indicates an increased likelihood of health emergencies caused by prolonged extreme temperatures affecting the entire population, CE Report quotes MOLDPRES.

Twenty-five cities were under a red alert on Wednesday, with two more joining the list on Thursday, according to Italy’s Ministry of Health.

It marks the first time this year that all 27 cities monitored by the ministry’s heatwave surveillance system have been placed under the maximum alert level.

The cities under red alert include Turin, Bolzano, Milan, Genoa, Venice, Verona, Trieste, Bologna, Florence, Perugia, Rome, Naples, Ancona, Pescara, Bari, Campobasso, Reggio Calabria, Palermo, Cagliari, Catania, Messina, Brescia, Viterbo, Latina, Rieti, Frosinone, and Civitavecchia.

With temperatures approaching 40°C in parts of the country in recent days, authorities have urged residents to avoid direct sunlight between 11:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., stay indoors whenever possible, and drink at least 1.5 liters of water daily. They also advised avoiding sugary drinks, coffee, alcohol, and heavy meals, wearing light clothing, and never leaving children or pets inside parked vehicles.

Scientists say the extreme heat, driven by the human-caused climate crisis, is expected to persist for at least another week. Europe has been warming at roughly twice the global average rate.

The current heatwave has been linked to four deaths in recent days, including a 19-year-old tomato picker and a 40-year-old carpenter, both of whom were working outdoors in industrial areas of the Lombardy region. A security guard in Bologna is also believed to have died from a heat-related condition while sitting in his car.

This year’s heatwaves have also worsened drought conditions in the Po Valley following an unusually dry spring. More than 100 municipalities in the regions of Piedmont and Lombardy are facing water shortages, with some relying on tanker trucks to replenish drinking water supplies.

Major tourist cities such as Rome are introducing measures to reduce the impact of the heat by offering free access to air-conditioned cinemas and cultural venues during the hottest hours of the day. Authorities have also extended evening opening hours for landmarks including the Colosseum and the Pantheon to encourage visits after sunset.

Photo: Wikipedia