Europe's heatwave puts Sardinia on alert as drought deepens

Europe's latest heatwave is set to push temperatures above 35C in areas home to at least 92 million people, particularly in France, Italy, and Spain, according to AFP calculations reported by The Local Italy. For Sardinia, the heat is not just an inconvenience but a threat to its fragile environment, with drought conditions and wildfire risk mounting across the island's interior.

The island has long been exposed to Mediterranean climate stress, and the current heatwave comes on top of a dry summer that has left reservoirs low and vegetation parched. The interior, with its pastoral economy and scattered communities, is particularly vulnerable. Local authorities have been on alert for wildfires, which have historically devastated large areas of the island during prolonged heat spells.

The heatwave also strains the tourism sector, which is at its peak during the Ferragosto holiday period. Visitors flocking to Sardinia's beaches and coastal resorts are likely to find conditions challenging, while the island's infrastructure — from water supplies to energy grids — faces added pressure from increased demand.