Five people have lost their lives in Italy due to the extreme heat affecting the country for about a week.
The extreme heat, expected to peak over the weekend in Italy, has led to fatalities. Five people, including outdoor workers and the elderly, have died from heatstroke. With temperatures expected to reach 41 degrees this weekend, the number of cities under a “red alert” across the country is set to rise to 18 as of tomorrow.
The heat wave has also caused power outages and infrastructure problems across the country. In Milan, fire departments carried out 60 rescue operations for people trapped in elevators. The Uffizi Gallery in Florence temporarily suspended ticket sales due to a malfunction in its air conditioning system. The agricultural sector faces a risk of 1.5 billion euros in losses due to extreme heat and water shortages.
Italian Health Minister Orazio Schillaci convened an emergency meeting at the ministry in response to the rising risks and emphasized the need to take measures to protect the elderly, children, and vulnerable groups.
