Southern European countries are currently grappling with extreme heat as record-breaking temperatures loom over the region this week. Italy, in particular, is expected to witness scorching highs, with Sicily and Sardinia forecasted to reach a staggering 48 degrees Celsius. This could potentially break Italy’s previous record temperature of 48.8 degrees Celsius set just two years ago. Additionally, approximately 60 per cent of Italy is anticipated to surpass 40 degrees Celsius this week.
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In response to the heatwave, the Italian government issued a red alert for 20 out of the country’s 27 major cities on Tuesday. Authorities have also raised concerns about the health risks associated with the extreme temperatures, particularly for the elderly and vulnerable populations. Last summer, a Europe-wide heatwave claimed the lives of 18,000 Italians, making it the highest death toll among the 35 countries studied in a report by the Institute of Global Health published in the Nature Medicine journal.
