Italian Health Ministry Issues Highest Heat Risk Alert for Nine Cities

The Italian Health Ministry has placed Bari, Cagliari, Campobasso, Catania, Latina, Messina, Palermo, Rome, and Reggio Calabria under the highest risk category, citing the potential for serious health problems, particularly for vulnerable groups. The ministry advised citizens to protect themselves from the sun as much as possible and recommended that the elderly, children, and those with chronic illnesses avoid going outside between 11:00 and 18:00. The heatwave has also disrupted daily life in the capital, Rome, where tourists at historic and popular sites sought ways to shield themselves from the high temperatures. Some visitors were seen walking through the streets with umbrellas and portable fans, while others crowded around the city's fountains to cool off.

The hot weather is also complicating efforts to fight wildfires on the island of Sicily in southern Italy. According to local sources, a fire that broke out yesterday at the foot of Mount Gulino near Palermo is still being battled. Two helicopters have been deployed to the area to fight the flames from the air, and crews continue their efforts to bring the blaze under control.