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Italy’s health ministry on Thursday issued a red heatwave alert for Rome, Florence, Bologna, Brescia and Turin as unusually high temperatures continued to affect parts of Europe.
The red alert, the first issued in Italy this year, warns that the extreme heat could have adverse effects even on healthy and active people, while authorities advised residents and visitors to avoid prolonged exposure to the sun.
Temperatures in Rome climbed to about 32 degrees Celsius, with tourists around the Colosseum seeking shade and relying heavily on water to cope with the humid conditions.
Some visitors said they were trying to stay cool by drinking plenty of water and avoiding direct sunlight whenever possible, while others said they had adjusted their schedules to explore earlier in the day and spend more time indoors or in air-conditioned spaces during peak heat hours.
“We’re sweating a lot,” said Spanish tourist Nana Martinez Garcia.
“We’re drinking a lot of water so we can cool down,” she said, with her friend Maria Angeles Mellinas Tello piping in that they were “always staying in the shade whenever we can”.
Although Italy has so far avoided the record-breaking temperatures recorded in countries such as the United Kingdom and France, the broader European heatwave has intensified concerns over rising temperatures linked to climate change.
Britain recently recorded its hottest May day at 35.1 degrees Celsius, while scientists have warned that human-driven climate change is making extreme weather events such as heatwaves, floods and droughts more frequent and severe.
