Italy placing nearly all major cities on highest heat alert
The Italian health ministry issues red alerts for 25 out of 27 major cities by Monday as a severe heatwave grips the country alongside destructive wildfires across Europe.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Italy places red heat alerts in 25 out of 27 major cities by Monday.
- Temperatures hit the mid-30s C as intense heat spreads from north to south.
- Officials urge residents to avoid direct sunlight between 11:00 and 18:00 and stay hydrated.
- Several European nations battle devastating wildfires fueled by recurring heatwaves.
Italy is facing a severe climate crisis as authorities place almost all of its major cities on the highest red alert level for extreme temperatures. Health officials report that 19 cities from the north to the south—including the capital Rome, Milan, Venice, and Naples—are already under red alerts, and by Monday, all but two cities will be subjected to the warning.
Temperatures climbed to the mid-30s C across numerous regions on Saturday, prompting authorities to warn that risks extend beyond vulnerable groups like the elderly, young children, and chronically ill individuals, threatening even healthy and active people.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
In its latest heatwave bulletin released on Saturday, the Italian health ministry stated that by Monday, approximately 25 of the nation's 27 major cities will be on red alert. The ministry strongly urges residents in affected areas to steer clear of heat and direct sunlight during peak hours between 11:00 and 18:00, remain indoors, and consume plenty of fluids.
This extreme weather is driven by a subtropical anticyclone originating from North Africa that is strengthening over the Mediterranean basin. Meanwhile, the broader European continent continues to battle fierce blazes, with firefighters in Greece, France, Portugal, and Spain working tirelessly to extinguish fires spanning thousands of hectares.
The widespread heatwave currently plaguing Europe underscores the accelerated impact of global climate change. According to monitoring services, Europe is warming at twice the global average, making it the fastest-warming continent on Earth. This accelerating trend intensifies summer heatwaves, places immense strain on regional water supplies, and creates volatile conditions for severe wildfires.
In France, roughly 2,500 individuals were evacuated in the south-eastern Var region on Friday evening after a wildfire that had been contained for days suddenly reignited. Conversely, a massive fire in the south-western Gironde region has been brought under control, allowing about 200,000 evacuated residents to return home. In Greece, hundreds of people, predominantly tourists, were evacuated by sea from a coastal town in Viotia trapped by encroaching flames.
Furthermore, European Union data reveals that Spain has lost more than 200,000 hectares of land to fires in 2026, marking a figure roughly five times higher than the seasonal average for this time of year, while Portugal has also recorded above-average burned land. The Copernicus Climate Change Service highlights that global temperature rises are heavily driven by climate change, with Europe warming at an unprecedented pace.
Source: BBC Science & Environment
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