Italy places all 27 major cities on highest heat alert

Italy has placed 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 of the summer intensifies, according to the Guardian. Temperatures in some areas are edging close to 40C, prompting a red alert across the country's urban centers.

The move marks a significant escalation in a summer that has already tested Italy's resilience to extreme heat. The red alert, the highest level on the national heat warning system, signals a health risk for the entire population, not just the vulnerable elderly or those with pre-existing conditions.

For Sicily, the alert lands with particular weight. Palermo, the region's capital and one of the 27 cities named, sits at the front line of a warming Mediterranean. The island has faced repeated drought and water restrictions in recent years, and this heatwave compounds a summer of climate stress on agriculture, tourism and daily life.