Italy placed 27 cities under its highest heat alert on Wednesday as another intense heatwave gripped the country, with several deaths suspected to be linked to the soaring temperatures.
According to ANSA news agency, 25 cities were under a red alert on Wednesday, with the number expected to rise to 27 on Thursday as temperatures continue to climb.
ANSA reported three suspected heat-related deaths: a 40-year-old carpenter who fell ill while working on a rooftop, a 55-year-old security guard who suffered a medical emergency while sitting in a car, and a 90-year-old woman who collapsed while in a garden.
Temperatures are forecast to exceed 40°C in parts of the country, with only a slight drop to 36-39°C expected over the weekend.
Authorities also remain on alert over the heightened risk of drought and wildfires. Fires have been reported in Marsica, in the central region of Abruzzo, while firefighters continue battling a blaze in the Karst area near Trieste that has been burning since Saturday.
