Italy places 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, according to the Guardian.

The red alert comes as temperatures in some areas edge close to 40C, the newspaper reported on Wednesday. The measure extends from the Adriatic coast to the Mediterranean islands, covering the country's main urban centres.

For the Trentino-Alto Adige region, the alert is a reminder that the heat is not only a southern or coastal phenomenon. While the high Alps offer some respite, the valley floors — where most of the region's population lives — are feeling the strain of consecutive heatwaves.