Italy Puts All Major Cities on Red Alert as Heatwave Grips Europe

A powerful heatwave swept across Europe this week, pushing temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) in several countries. Italy placed all 27 of its major cities under a red alert — the highest heat warning level — for the first time all at once. The extreme heat caused wildfires, hurt power plants, and put millions of people's health at risk. Scientists warn that these dangerous heat events are happening more often because of climate change.

Italy's Health Ministry issued red alerts stretching from the city of Trieste in the northeast to Palermo in Sicily. A red alert means the heat is dangerous for everyone, not just older adults or people who are already sick. Officials told residents and tourists to stay out of direct sunlight during the hottest parts of the day, stay indoors as much as possible, and drink plenty of water. The ministry also extended evening hours at famous landmarks like Rome's Colosseum and Pantheon so visitors could tour them in cooler temperatures.

To help people beat the heat, Rome set up a free outdoor "urban beach" along the Tiber River in a neighborhood called Marconi. The spot, known as Tiberis, has swimming pools, water fountains, and shaded areas where families and children can cool off. Rome resident Claudio Rocchi praised the idea, saying it was a great initiative, especially for children who need to cool down on such hot days. Cooling mist fans were also installed at the entrances to the Colosseum, and extra medical stations were set up nearby.

The heatwave broke temperature records in several countries. Austria recorded an all-time high of 41.2 degrees Celsius (106.2 degrees Fahrenheit) in the village of Bad Deutsch-Altenburg on Wednesday. Slovakia set its own record the next day, reaching 42.2 degrees Celsius (108 degrees Fahrenheit). Scientists in Austria also noted that parts of the country have not seen conditions this dry since 1885, with rainfall running 27% below average for the first half of the year.

The lack of water in rivers created serious problems for making electricity. In Slovakia, the Danube River dropped so low that the country's biggest hydroelectric power plant had to shut down seven of its eight turbines. Hydroelectric plants use flowing water to generate electricity, so low river levels mean less power. The plant had already produced 15% less electricity than normal this year because of the water shortage.

Hungary faced a similar crisis at its only nuclear power plant, which uses water from the Danube River to cool its reactors. Operators were forced to cut production to just 10% of normal levels, and the government asked households and businesses to use less electricity during peak hours. It even canceled some sessions of parliament to help save power, and switched off decorative lights on landmarks in Budapest. Major companies like Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Suzuki also announced plans to reduce their energy use.

In Germany, low water levels on the Rhine River caused problems for shipping and industry. Transport Minister Steffen Bilger warned that the situation posed major challenges for moving goods by boat. An environmental group called BUND urged the government to help rivers hold more water and become more resistant to climate change. Low river levels make it harder for large cargo ships to travel, which slows down the delivery of important goods.

Wildfires broke out across Europe as the dry, hot conditions created dangerous fire weather. In southeastern France, a wildfire in the Var region had burned more than 60 square kilometers since July 20, making it the largest fire in the area in recent decades. Firefighters stayed on guard even after the fire stopped spreading, because strong winds could easily reignite it. Authorities warned that more wildfires were likely across the region.

In England, a grass fire temporarily shut down a runway at Heathrow Airport in London during what has been the driest July on record. Across the Balkans, temperatures neared 40 degrees Celsius and firefighters battled several blazes in Serbia and Croatia. In Serbia, fires burned through pine forests and spread near towns where difficult terrain made fighting the flames hard. In Croatia, tourists in Dubrovnik stayed in the shade and avoided beaches during the hottest hours of the day as temperatures soared along the Adriatic Sea.