Italy will place all 27 of its main cities, from Trieste in the north to Palermo in the south, on the highest level of heat alert as the fourth heat wave to hit the country this summer intensifies.
The red alert signifies an increased risk to the health of the entire population due to extreme and prolonged temperatures, increasing the possibility of emergency situations.
The Italian Health Ministry said 25 cities were on red alert on Wednesday, with two more to be added to the list on Thursday. It is the first time this year that all 27 cities monitored by the ministry's heatwave surveillance system have been placed on the maximum alert level.
As temperatures in some areas of Italy have approached 40 degrees Celsius in recent days, authorities have urged citizens to avoid direct exposure to the sun between 11:00 and 18:00, stay indoors whenever possible and consume at least 1.5 liters of water per day.
Other guidelines include avoiding carbonated drinks, coffee, alcohol and heavy meals, wearing light clothing and never leaving children or animals inside vehicles.
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Extreme heat breaks records in central and eastern Europe
According to scientists, this extreme heat wave, driven by climate change caused by human activity, is not expected to abate for at least another week.
Europe has warmed about twice as fast as the global average.
