Italy places major cities on highest heat alert as Europe faces prolonged heatwave

Rome, Italy. Italy placed all its major cities under the highest health alert on Thursday as a heatwave continued across large parts of Europe, while Hungary reduced lighting at prominent buildings to save energy.

Heat alerts across Italy

Italy’s Health Ministry issued a red alert from Palermo in Sicily to Bolzano in the north, an unprecedented measure for the country’s major cities.

The alert signalled a potential health emergency, with prolonged high temperatures posing a serious risk to the entire population.

Temperatures exceeded 40C in several parts of the northern Emilia-Romagna region on Thursday. In Bagnacavallo, near Ravenna, temperatures reached 42.8C.

In Assisi, pilgrims attending Pope Leo’s visit to mark the 800th anniversary of St. Francis’ death were sprayed with water to cool down in the summer heat.

“I think that when you really care about something, when you truly believe in it, even if it’s hot, you make the effort,” said volunteer Miriam Mariotti.

In Rome, tourists used umbrellas for shade and cooled their hands in the city’s fountains. Gianni Arlotta, visiting from Trieste, said he tried to avoid going outside during the hottest hours.

“We try to avoid going out during the hottest part of the day and instead go out in the evening or early in the morning,” he said.

Wildfire costs and EU response

Europe, the world’s fastest-warming continent, has experienced record temperatures and destructive wildfires this summer, with France and Spain among the countries particularly affected in recent weeks.

The European Union plans to urge member states to increase spending on wildfire risk-reduction measures, the bloc’s environment commissioner told Reuters.

Experts said the economic cost of this summer’s fires had already exceeded €15 billion, or $17.3 billion.