Climate: Heat-related calls to emergency services up 20%

(ANSA) - ROME, JUL 12 - Heat-related calls to Italy's emergency services have risen by at least 20% in the last three weeks with respect to the equivalent period last year, Mario Balzanelli of the 118 health-emergency-call system told ANSA on Friday.
    Italy is currently in the grip of a major heat wave.
    The number of Italian cities on red alert for the heat, meaning it is so intense it is a threat to active healthy people and not just the vulnerable, is set to rise from seven on Friday to 11 on Saturday. They are: Ancona, Bologna, Campobasso, Florence, Frosinone, Latina, Perugia, Rieti, Pescara, Rome and Viterbo.
    Balzanelli said the rise in heat-related requests for help, coupled with a reduction in the number of emergency doctors, has put the system under "severe" strain.
    Scientists say the climate crisis caused by human greenhouse gas emissions is making extreme weather events such as heatwaves, droughts, supercharged storms and flooding more frequent and more intense.
    Although there are many sources of the greenhouse gases that are causing global heating, the main driver is the burning of fossil fuels such as oil, gas and coal, sales of which generate huge profits for the world's energy giants.
    While much of the county bakes in the heat, areas of northern Italy have been suffering the other side of the climate crisis, with torrential rain causing flooding around Lake Como on Friday, while a tornado hit the province of Varese, knocking over trees, causing road closures and disrupting rail services.
    (ANSA).