Red alert across Sicily's cities as Europe's heatwave tightens grip

Italy's health ministry placed all major cities on red alert ahead of the weekend, from Trieste in the northeast to Palermo in Sicily, as a blistering heatwave across much of Europe toppled temperature records and disrupted energy and transportation systems, France 24 reported. The alert covers 27 cities, with temperatures approaching or exceeding those recorded during the infamous summer of 2003, according to The Local Italy.

The heat has set a national temperature record in neighbouring Austria, fueled wildfires in France and strained infrastructure across the continent, CBS News reported. In Rome, commuters are sweltering on the Metro C line, where high temperatures and air conditioning systems struggling with conditions they were not designed for have exposed the city's vulnerabilities, The Local Italy said.

For Sicily, the red alert is more than a health warning. The island has endured a summer of drought and wildfire, and the heat now bears down on an agricultural sector already counting the cost of a parched season. Palermo, listed among the cities on red alert, faces a weekend of emergency services on standby and vulnerable residents urged to stay indoors.