ITALY — The Italian Health Ministry placed all 27 cities monitored by its national heat surveillance system on red alert. This is the first time this year that all 27 monitored cities have been placed on the highest heat alert simultaneously.

A red alert indicates a higher chance of emergency due to health risks posed by prolonged extreme temperatures to the entire population. Twenty-five cities were on red alert on Wednesday, with two more added on Thursday.

The cities on red alert are 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. Temperatures in some areas of Italy have approached 40C in recent days.

The current heatwave is linked to four deaths in recent days. A 19-year-old tomato-picker working in an industrial area of the Lombardy region died. A 40-year-old carpenter working in an industrial area of the Lombardy region also died.

A security guard in Bologna is thought to have suffered a fatal heat-related illness while in his car. Authorities warned people to avoid direct sunlight between 11:00 and 18:00.

Authorities advised residents to stay indoors where possible and drink at least 1.5 litres of water a day. Health guidelines include avoiding fizzy drinks, coffee, alcohol and heavy meals, wearing light clothes, and never leaving children or animals in cars.

More than 100 towns across Piedmont and Lombardy are dealing with water supply difficulties. Some towns are using tanker trucks to fill drinking water reserves. Milk production has fallen by 10% owing to dairy cows eating less because of heat stress.

Rome is providing free access to air-conditioned cinemas and cultural venues during the hottest hours of the day. Rome extended the opening hours of monuments including the Colosseum and Pantheon to allow for evening visits. Throughout August, the Italian ministries of culture and tourism have launched an initiative to keep major Italian museums open for up to four hours longer.

Cooling mist fans have been installed at the Colosseum's entrances. Additional medical stations have been made available at the Colosseum. The Colosseum was established in 0082.

The Colosseum is open Fridays and Saturdays between 19:45 and 23:30. The Pantheon is open from 19:00 to 23:00 every day except Thursdays. Sforza Castle in Milan is open from 17:30 until 19:30.

Rome introduced a free municipal 'urban beach' along the Tiber River in the Marconi neighborhood. The site, known as Tiberis, features swimming pools, water fountains and shaded areas. "Visiting outdoor attractions during Italy's hottest hours (after lunchtime) is a 'big mistake'," Simone Quilici, Director of the Archaeological Park of the Colosseum, said.

Europe has warmed about twice as fast as the global average. "Although it was difficult to predict when each heatwave would occur, the climate crisis was making them 'longer and more intense'," Lorenzo Giovannini, Atmospheric physicist at the University of Trento, said.

GeoSphere Austria recorded a temperature of 41.2 C (106.2 F) on Wednesday in Bad Deutsch-Altenburg. GeoSphere Austria is geological, geophysical, meteorological and climatological service of Austria (since 2023). The temperature of 41.2 C (106.2 F) was the highest ever recorded in Austria.

Rainfall in Austria from January 1 through June 30 was 27% below the long-term average nationwide. Slovakia recorded an all-time high temperature of 42.2 C (108 F) at Dolne Plachtince. Low water levels in the Danube forced Slovakia's Gabčíkovo hydroelectric power plant to shut down seven of its eight turbines.

Hungary's only nuclear power plant reduced output to about 10% of normal production due to low water levels in the Danube River. The Hungarian government canceled parliamentary sessions this week to conserve power. Budapest recorded its warmest overnight low temperature on record at 28 C (82 F). A wildfire in the Var region of France has burned more than 60 square kilometers (23 square miles).

The simultaneous red alert across all 27 monitored cities marks a significant escalation in the national response to extreme weather. The alert status reflects a heightened risk of emergency for the entire population due to prolonged exposure to high temperatures. The linkage of the current heatwave to four deaths reflects the immediate human cost of these conditions.

The impact extends beyond public health to critical infrastructure and economic sectors. Water supply difficulties in over 100 towns and a 10% drop in milk production demonstrate the strain on essential resources. Regional effects include power conservation measures in Hungary and record-breaking temperatures in Austria and Slovakia, indicating a broader pattern of extreme heat across Europe.

Why It Matters

The simultaneous red alert across all 27 monitored Italian cities marks the first such occurrence this year, signaling heightened emergency risks for the entire population. Extreme heat has already caused four deaths and disrupted essential services, including water supplies and energy production in neighboring countries. Record temperatures in Austria and Slovakia, combined with reduced power output from hydroelectric and nuclear plants, illustrate how rising heat strains infrastructure and public health systems across Europe.