Italy's health ministry has placed 27 major cities on red alert as a blistering heatwave that has broken temperature records across Europe intensifies into the country's fourth heatwave of the year. The red alert, the highest heat warning level, takes effect on Thursday and is set to last through the weekend.
The affected cities range from Trieste in the northeast to Palermo in Sicily. The alert comes as the heatwave disrupts energy and transportation systems in several European countries, where temperature records have been toppled.
The heatwave, the fourth to hit Italy this year, is expected to intensify further. Red alerts indicate a risk to public health, and authorities have urged precautions against heat-related illness.