Heatwave economy: Europe's scorching summer hits tourism and industry

Europe's scorching summer is exacting a measurable economic cost, the Guardian reported, with low river levels stalling German freight traffic, forcing the closure of nuclear plants in France, and disrupting tourism and productivity across the continent. The report, published Sunday, surveyed the impact of the heatwaves on several major European economies, finding that critical infrastructure has been shut down and workers have struggled in the heat as wildfires raged.

For Italy, the economic strain is most visible in the tourism sector, which the Guardian noted has been affected by the extreme conditions. The report comes as Sicily's Mount Etna continues to spew lava and ash, forcing Catania airport to suspend flights again during the peak summer holiday season, according to Deutsche Welle. The combination of heat and volcanic disruption has created a difficult environment for the industry that many Italian regions depend on.