Italy puts nearly all cities on highest heat alert as heatwave grips nation

Italy is placing nearly all of its major cities under the highest alert for heat from Monday, as a fresh heatwave grips the country, authorities said on Saturday, according to The Local Italy. Some 19 major Italian cities — including Rome, Milan and Naples — are already on red alert, and by Monday all but two will be, the BBC reported.

The red alert, the highest level on Italy's heat warning scale, indicates conditions that pose a health risk to the general population, not just the vulnerable. The BBC noted that the alert system is designed to trigger public health responses, including the opening of cooling centres and increased support for the elderly and those with pre-existing conditions.

For Abruzzo, the heatwave carries a double burden. While the region's mountainous interior is typically cooler than the coastal plains, the inner Apennine villages are among the most depopulated in Italy, with a high proportion of elderly residents who are particularly vulnerable to extreme temperatures.