Italy's fourth heatwave puts all 27 major cities on red alert

Italy is to place all of its 27 major cities, from Trieste in the north to Palermo in the south, under the highest heat alert as the fourth heatwave to hit the country this summer intensifies, the Guardian reported. The red alert comes as temperatures in some areas edge close to 40C, extending a summer of successive heat events that have strained infrastructure and public health systems across the country.

The move follows a pattern of escalating heat warnings throughout July and August. Earlier this month, Italy's health ministry issued red alerts for a dozen cities as the third heatwave peaked, and the current fourth wave is proving more intense, according to the Guardian's coverage. The highest alert level signals a health risk for the entire population, not just the elderly or those with pre-existing conditions, and triggers measures including extended hours for public cooling centres and increased staffing in emergency departments.

For Basilicata, a region with a continental climate in its mountainous interior and Mediterranean conditions along its short Tyrrhenian and Ionian coasts, the heat carries particular weight. Potenza, the regional capital sitting at nearly 800 metres above sea level, typically offers relief from the coastal heat, but this summer's sustained temperatures have eroded that advantage. The region's ageing population — Basilicata has one of the oldest demographic profiles in Italy — faces heightened vulnerability during prolonged red-alert periods.