Italy places 27 cities under top heat alert amid extreme weather

Italy placed 27 cities under its highest-level heat alert as another intense heatwave gripped the country on Wednesday, with several deaths suspected to be linked to the extreme temperatures, according to the ANSA news agency.

While 25 cities were under a red heat alert on Wednesday, the number is expected to increase to 27 on Thursday as forecast record-high temperatures continue to pose serious risks to public health.

ANSA reported three additional deaths believed to be related to the heatwave.

A 40-year-old carpenter died after falling ill while working on a rooftop, a 55-year-old security guard suffered a medical emergency while sitting inside a car and later died, and a 90-year-old woman also died while in a garden.

Temperatures are forecast to exceed 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) in parts of Italy, with only a modest decline to between 36C and 39C expected over the weekend.

Authorities also remain concerned about drought conditions and the growing risk of wildfires. Fires have been reported in the Marsica area of the Abruzzo region, while firefighters continue efforts to contain a blaze in the Karst area near Trieste that has been burning since Saturday afternoon.

Stabil.Az