Italy's 27 Cities Under Red Heat 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 on Wednesday. The red alert covers urban centres across the peninsula, a measure reserved for conditions posing a serious risk to public health.

The move comes as temperatures in some areas edge close to 40C, according to the Guardian's report. The alert system, which rates heat risk by city, has been triggered across the board for the first time this season, signalling a summer that has already tested Italy's infrastructure and its most vulnerable populations.

For Calabria, the southernmost region of the mainland, the red alert carries particular weight. Cities such as Reggio Calabria and Catanzaro sit on the hot Mediterranean coast, where summer heat is compounded by humidity and where elderly populations are among the highest in Europe.