Italy is facing its hottest summer in a century as temperatures reached 48 degrees in the Afragola area of Naples today. Italian meteorologists said July broke the previous heat record set in 2003, which had been the warmest year since scientific measurements began.
The country is enduring its fourth consecutive heatwave, which is expected to last at least another ten days. Civil Protection authorities announced that 26 cities will be placed on maximum alert tomorrow due to extreme heat.
Northern, central, and southern regions have remained under continuous pressure from almost non-stop heatwaves for the past two months. In Bisceglie, Apulia, an 81-year-old man died from cardiac arrest while preparing to dive into the sea, with officials attributing the death to high temperatures.
Local responses and emergency aid
On the island of Sardinia, farmers and livestock breeders facing severe damage from heat and drought requested a state of emergency declaration to secure immediate government aid.
Local municipalities are taking measures to assist vulnerable residents. Genoa extended free museum admission for residents over 65 during peak daytime heat, while volunteers in the Ancona region are delivering store-bought groceries directly to elderly citizens at home.
