Italy on Red Alert, Hungary Turns Off the Lights as Europe's Heatwave Takes Toll

A dangerous heatwave is sweeping across Europe, forcing governments to take emergency steps to protect their people. Italy placed all of its major cities on the highest level of health alert on Thursday. Meanwhile, Hungary turned off the lights at famous buildings at night to save energy. Scientists say Europe is the world's fastest-warming continent, and this summer has brought record-breaking heat and deadly wildfires to many countries.

Italy is used to hot summers, but this heat is extreme. The country's Health Ministry issued a red alert stretching from Palermo, a city on the southern island of Sicily, all the way north to Bolzano, near the mountains. A red alert means the heat is so intense that it could cause a health emergency for everyone — not just older or sick people. Officials are doing what they can to help people cool down. In the city of Genoa, people aged 65 and older can visit museums and libraries for free during the hottest parts of the day, and Rome is offering free movies in air-conditioned cinemas through August 14.

The heatwave has also caused rivers to reach dangerously low water levels. In the Piedmont region of northern Italy, officials declared a state of emergency because of drought and wildfire risks. Germany's Rhine River is also running low, which means cargo ships can only carry part of their usual loads, making it more expensive to ship goods like grain, coal, and oil. Rivers are important trade routes, and when they shrink, it costs everyone more money.

Hungary is facing a serious energy problem linked to the heat. The country turned off decorative lights at famous landmarks, including its Parliament building, Buda Castle, and the Chain Bridge. The Danube River has dropped to record-low levels, forcing the country to mostly shut down its only nuclear power plant, which needs river water to stay cool. Without that plant running at full power, Hungary is struggling to keep up with its electricity needs.

Neighboring Romania is dealing with the same problem on the Danube. Officials are planning to sink four barges filled with rocks into the river to push water toward their one working nuclear reactor, hoping to keep it running a little longer. The capital city of Bucharest has also dimmed its street lights by one-third and turned off lights at museums and landmark buildings at night to save power. These steps show how the heat is creating a chain of problems — not just for people, but for the energy systems that whole countries depend on.

Not everyone is suffering in the heat — some tourists have found a clever escape. In Bosnia, visitors are flocking to the Vjetrenica cave, a UNESCO-listed natural wonder that stays at a cool 11 degrees Celsius (about 52 degrees Fahrenheit) all year long. The cave, whose name means 'wind cave,' is located in southern Bosnia, about 25 kilometers north of the coastal town of Dubrovnik. Only a limited number of visitors are allowed inside at a time to protect the cave's delicate environment, which is also home to many rare plants and animals.