European heatwave triggers red alerts in Italy and record temperatures in Austria

A persistent summer heatwave continues to sweep across Western and Southern Europe, pushing temperatures near 40 degrees Celsius and causing thousands of excess deaths. In Italy, health officials issued red weather alerts across all 27 major cities, including Messina and Reggio Calabria, as extreme conditions are predicted to last another week. Authorities advised residents to avoid direct sunlight during peak daytime hours and maintain hydration.

Meanwhile, Austria logged a historical high of 40.8 degrees Celsius near Vienna. In France, public health data revealed more than 7,300 excess deaths associated with 52 heatwave days recorded since May. Heightened wildfire risks and ongoing drought conditions also persist across the United Kingdom and France, following global climate reports indicating that several countries experienced their hottest July on record.

Sources: Aftenposten, Berlingske, DR, TV 2 Nyheter, VG