Italy Issues Red Heatwave Alert for 15 Cities as Europe Swelters

Italy has placed 15 cities, including major centers like Milan and Rome, under a red alert due to an intense heatwave gripping the country. The Ministry of Health is strongly advising residents to remain indoors during the hottest parts of the day to mitigate the risks associated with extreme temperatures.

The situation is expected to worsen, with the number of cities on high alert set to rise to 16 on Wednesday and 17 on Thursday. The strain on infrastructure is already evident, as Milan and Turin have experienced power outages attributed to the surge in air conditioning usage. In Rome, transportation authorities noted that batteries in new electric buses are draining faster than usual due to the increased demand for cooling.

Medical services are also feeling the pressure. In Parma, the hospital emergency room reported treating 1,068 individuals over the past three days for heatwave-related conditions. This Italian heatwave is part of a broader pattern affecting Europe, where extreme temperatures have led to fatalities in multiple countries.

France is particularly hard-hit, recording its warmest night since meteorological records began in 1947. The average minimum temperature on Tuesday night reached 21.6 degrees Celsius, surpassing the previous record of 21.4 degrees set in 2019. French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu reported that 40 people, many of them young, have drowned since June 18 amid the ongoing heatwave.