Italy's 27 cities on red alert as fourth heatwave 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. A red alert, the highest level, signals a health risk for the general population, not only the vulnerable, and triggers measures including cooling centres and extended public services.

The move comes as temperatures in some areas edge close to 40C, according to the Guardian's Rome correspondent. The alert covers cities across the peninsula, including Genoa, which sits on Liguria's coast and serves as the region's principal port and tourism gateway.

For Liguria, the heat arrives at the peak of the summer season, when the Riviera and Cinque Terre draw thousands of visitors daily. The red alert places additional strain on coastal services, from water supplies to emergency medical response, at a time when the region's infrastructure is already stretched by tourist numbers.