Italy putting nearly all major cities on highest heat alert
In its latest heatwave bulletin published on Saturday, the Italian health ministry says that by Monday, some 25 of the country's 27 major cities will be on red alert.
It says it expects only two - Reggio Calabria in the southern tip of Italy's "boot" and Messina, facing it across on the island of Sicily - to be on the second-highest "amber" alert.
The ministry urges residents in the affected areas to avoid exposure to heat and direct sunlight during the hottest hours between 11:00 and 18:00, stay indoors and drink plenty of fluids.
The extreme heat is being caused by a subtropical anticyclone from North Africa that is now strengthening over the Mediterranean.
Meanwhile, firefighters in Greece, France, Portugal and Spain are still tackling blazes spanning thousands of hectares.
In France, some 2,500 people were evacuated in the south-eastern Var region on Friday evening after a blaze - which had been contained for several days - reignited, local officials said.
But a massive fire in the south-western Gironde region is now under control, and some 200,000 local evacuated residents have been able to return to their homes.
In Greece, hundreds of people - mostly tourists - have been evacuated by sea from a coastal town of Viotia hemmed in by one of the many wildfires raging across the country.
And in Spain, more than 200,000 hectares of land has burnt in 2026 - roughly five times above the average by this point in the year - while the burnt land in Portugal is also higher than usual, EU data shows.
Climate change is driving up temperatures around the world, and Europe is the fastest warming continent, heating up twice as fast as the global average, according to the Copernicus Climate Change Service.
This is causing increased summer heatwaves, greater pressure on Europe's water supply, and more intense wildfires.
Read the full story at BBC ↗
Italy's health ministry issued a heatwave bulletin on Saturday indicating that 25 of its 27 major cities will move to red heat alert by Monday, with guidance for residents to limit sun exposure between 11:00 and 18:00, remain indoors, and stay hydrated. A subtropical anticyclone from North Africa is strengthening over the Mediterranean. Concurrently, firefighting operations continue across southern Europe: in France, a reignited blaze in Var evacuated 2,500 people on Friday, while a larger Gironde fire is now controlled and 200,000 evacuated residents have returned; in Greece, coastal evacuations by sea have occurred due to multiple wildfires; Spain has recorded over 200,000 hectares burned in 2026, five times the typical amount to date, with Portugal also exceeding usual burnt area figures. Europe's warming rate—twice the global average—is contributing to intensified summer heatwaves, water supply pressure, and more severe wildfires.
Read the full story at BBC ↗
In its latest heatwave bulletin published on Saturday, the Italian health ministry says that by Monday, some 25 of the country's 27 major cities will be on red alert.
It says it expects only two - Reggio Calabria in the southern tip of Italy's "boot" and Messina, facing it across on the island of Sicily - to be on the second-highest "amber" alert.
The ministry urges residents in the affected areas to avoid exposure to heat and direct sunlight during the hottest hours between 11:00 and 18:00, stay indoors and drink plenty of fluids.
The extreme heat is being caused by a subtropical anticyclone from North Africa that is now strengthening over the Mediterranean.
Meanwhile, firefighters in Greece, France, Portugal and Spain are still tackling blazes spanning thousands of hectares.
In France, some 2,500 people were evacuated in the south-eastern Var region on Friday evening after a blaze - which had been contained for several days - reignited, local officials said.
But a massive fire in the south-western Gironde region is now under control, and some 200,000 local evacuated residents have been able to return to their homes.
In Greece, hundreds of people - mostly tourists - have been evacuated by sea from a coastal town of Viotia hemmed in by one of the many wildfires raging across the country.
And in Spain, more than 200,000 hectares of land has burnt in 2026 - roughly five times above the average by this point in the year - while the burnt land in Portugal is also higher than usual, EU data shows.
Climate change is driving up temperatures around the world, and Europe is the fastest warming continent, heating up twice as fast as the global average, according to the Copernicus Climate Change Service.
This is causing increased summer heatwaves, greater pressure on Europe's water supply, and more intense wildfires.
Read the full story at BBC ↗
Italy's health ministry placed 25 of 27 major cities on red heat alert by Monday Only Reggio Calabria and Messina are on amber alert A subtropical anticyclone from North Africa is strengthening over the Mediterranean France evacuated 2,500 people from Var on Friday after a contained fire reignited A Gironde fire in France is now under control with 200,000 residents returned home Greece has evacuated hundreds of people, mostly tourists, by sea from a coastal town affected by wildfires Spain has burned over 200,000 hectares in 2026, roughly five times above average for this point in the year Europe is the fastest warming continent, heating twice as fast as the global average Climate change is driving increased summer heatwaves, greater pressure on water supply, and more intense wildfires in Europe
Read the full story at BBC ↗
- Italy's health ministry has placed 25 of 27 major cities on red heat alert as of Monday, with only Reggio Calabria and Messina on amber alert
- A subtropical anticyclone from North Africa is driving extreme heat across the Mediterranean region
- Active wildfires are affecting Greece, France, Portugal and Spain, with varying containment status; Spain has burned over 200,000 hectares in 2026, roughly five times the average
- European temperatures are rising twice as fast as the global average, increasing heatwaves, water stress, and wildfire intensity