Milan Braces as Italy Puts All 27 Major Cities on Red Heat Alert

Italy is to place all 27 of its 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 comes as temperatures in some areas edge close to 40C, according to the Guardian's coverage.

For Lombardy, the red alert is not merely a public health measure but an economic pressure test. Milan, the region's capital and Italy's financial heart, is among the cities facing the highest alert level, and the heat is expected to strain everything from energy demand to outdoor commerce and tourism, which are central to the local economy.