Italy putting nearly all major cities on highest heat alert
Some 19 major Italian cities - including Rome, Milan and Naples - are already on red alert, and by Monday all but two will be.
Italy is implementing a nationwide red alert for extreme heat, covering nearly all major cities as a new heatwave sweeps across the country. Health officials have placed 19 cities, including Rome, Milan, Venice, and Naples, under red alert status, with authorities warning that temperatures may reach mid-30s Celsius in many areas.
The Italian health ministry predicts that by Monday, 25 out of the 27 major cities will be under red alert, while only Reggio Calabria and Messina will be under amber alert. Residents are advised to avoid exposure to heat and direct sunlight during peak hours, stay indoors, and drink plenty of fluids. The extreme heat is attributed to a strengthening subtropical anticyclone from North Africa over the Mediterranean.
Wildfires are also raging in several European nations, with Greece, France, Portugal, and Spain battling fires that have forced evacuations and destroyed vast areas of land. Climate change is exacerbating the situation, driving up temperatures globally and causing more frequent and intense heatwaves and wildfires.
Written by urgent.news from BBC World's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
