Italy places 27 cities on red alert as heatwave grips Europe

Italy's health ministry placed 27 cities, from Trieste in the northeast to Palermo in Sicily, on red alert ahead of the weekend as a blistering heatwave across much of Europe toppled temperature records and disrupted energy and transportation systems in several countries, France 24 reported on Friday.

The alert, the highest level in Italy's heat-health warning system, signals that temperatures are approaching or exceeding those recorded during the infamous summer of 2003, according to The Local Italy. The heat has also set a national temperature record in Austria, fueled wildfires in France, and disrupted energy grids and transport networks across the continent, CBS News reported.

In Rome, the extreme heat has exposed vulnerabilities in public infrastructure. The city's newest metro line, Metro C, is facing criticism over high temperatures on platforms and carriages, while air conditioning systems on electric buses struggle with conditions they were not designed for, The Local Italy reported.

The red alert covers all major urban centres, including the capital, reflecting a public health concern for vulnerable populations such as the elderly and those with pre-existing conditions. The heatwave has also strained energy systems, with increased demand for cooling coinciding with reduced output from some power plants, according to CBS News.

The situation in Rome is compounded by a housing crisis. Hundreds of people who were evicted from a squatted social assistance hub are now camping outdoors in the heatwave, with authorities scrambling to find them homes after talks to save the facility collapsed, the Guardian reported. About 400 residents of the Spin Time building are sleeping outside after a fire forced their evacuation, Euronews reported, with volunteers providing aid during the extreme conditions.

For the Estero desk, the heatwave is not merely a weather story but an economic and diplomatic one. Italy's position as a major European tourist destination means the disruption could affect summer travel, a key revenue source. The strain on energy infrastructure also raises questions about the EU's preparedness for climate-related shocks, as member states face simultaneous pressures on grids and transport.

Experts have advised residents and visitors on coping strategies, from shopping in air-conditioned supermarkets to taking night-time tours, the BBC reported. But the underlying trend is concerning: heatwaves are becoming more frequent and intense, a pattern that scientists link to climate change and that carries long-term implications for Italy's agriculture, energy policy and public health systems.

The Italian government has not announced specific measures beyond the health alerts, but the red status is expected to remain in place through the weekend as forecasts show little relief. The broader European picture, with records falling in Austria and wildfires in France, suggests that this summer will be remembered as a turning point in the continent's experience of extreme heat.