Italy heatwave peaks as 25 cities remain under maximum alert

The intense heatwave across Italy reached its peak on Monday, with the Ministry of Health maintaining maximum red alerts for 25 out of 27 monitored cities through Wednesday. Only Messina and Reggio Calabria remain at the lower orange alert level. Temperatures exceeding 40°C in several regions are expected to persist until at least August 9.

Widespread heat and drought are impacting infrastructure across Europe. In Romania, military forces detonated submerged rock formations along the Danube to redirect river currents and cool the Cernavodă nuclear power plant. Meanwhile, extreme temperatures are driving a 14.4% surge in visitors to Italy's alpine destinations as travelers seek cooler mountain climates.

Sources: ANSA, Corriere della Sera, Il Messaggero, La Repubblica, La Stampa.