Europe's latest heatwave puts 92 million under 35C alert

Areas of Europe home to at least 92 million people, particularly in France, Italy and Spain, are set for temperatures above 35C on Wednesday in the continent's latest heatwave, according to AFP calculations reported by The Local Italy. The alert comes as Italy endures its fourth heatwave of the summer, a pattern that has already driven the Po River to historic lows.

For Emilia-Romagna, the heatwave is not merely a discomfort but an economic pressure point. The region's agricultural plain, which produces much of Italy's wheat, fruit and vegetables, depends on irrigation water drawn from the Po and its tributaries. With the river running low, farmers face hard choices about which crops to save.

The heat also strains the region's dense urban centres. Bologna's historic city centre, with its miles of porticoed walkways, offers some shade, but the stone and brick buildings retain heat well into the night, making rest difficult for residents without air conditioning.