All 27 major cities on red heat alert as fourth wave peaks

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 comes as temperatures in some areas edge close to 40C, the newspaper said.

The move signals a summer that has repeatedly tested the country's resilience, with successive heatwaves straining infrastructure, agriculture and daily life. For inland regions such as Umbria, the alert is a reminder that the heat is not confined to the coastal cities that dominate the headlines.

The Guardian's report noted that the heatwave is the fourth of the season, a pattern that has become familiar to Italians and visitors alike. The red alert applies to every major urban centre, an unprecedented sweep that reflects the breadth of the current episode.