The number of Italian cities on red
alert due to the potential impact of the heat on people's health
is set to rise from four on Tuesday to 10 on Thursday, the
government said.
Temperatures are forecast to reach as high as 48° in the next
few days in parts of southern Italy as the 'Lucifer' heatwave
intensifies in what is expected to be the hottest week of the
year.
The four cities on red alert on Tuesday are Bari, Campobasso,
Rieti and Rome.
The number will rise to eight on Wednesday and then 10 on
Thursday with Bologna, Frosinone, Latina, Palermo, Perugia and
Trieste joining the four.
Italy's Civil Protection Department has warned that the risk of
wildfires is set to increase throughout the nation this week due
to the heatwave.
Many regions have been hit by devastating wildfires in recent
weeks, with Sardinia, Sicily and Abruzzo hit particularly hard.
Scientists say the climate crisis is causing heatwaves and
extreme weather events to be more frequent and more intense.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © Copyright ANSA