Italy puts all 27 major cities on highest heat 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 on Wednesday.

The red alert covers every major urban centre across the country, a measure that reflects the severity of the current heatwave, which is edging temperatures in some areas close to 40 degrees Celsius. The move extends the heat warning system that has been in place through the summer as successive heatwaves have strained infrastructure and public health services.