Italy Issues Red Warning In 22 Cities Due To Hot Waves

Rome Italia/ILLUSTRATION UNSPLASH/Claudio Hirschberger

JAKARTA - Italy's Ministry of Health issued a "red warning" to 22 cities across the country, signaling the highest level of risk due to soaring temperatures when extreme heat waves reoccur.

The determination of a red warning indicates severe health risks, especially for vulnerable groups such as the elderly, children, and those with a history of illness.

The warning came into effect on Wednesday, August 14. A total of 19 cities, including the capital of Rome, were at the same level of warning the day before.

Reported by ANTARA from Anadolu, the Ministry of Health emphasizes that a high temperature is estimated to last for a week, and urges residents to take preventive measures in the face of potential harmful heat.

In Rome, temperatures reached 43 degrees Celsius in the middle of the day. Therefore, local residents and tourists are asked to seek protection from the strong heat.

Visitors to the historic city can be seen cooling off at Barcaccia Fountain near Spanish Steps, a popular place for tourists.

Meanwhile, to reduce the inconvenience of visitors lining up to see various Roman icons, such as Colosseoum, tourist attractions install large fans and portable tents to provide shade.

Many restaurants and cafes in the capital have taken additional steps to make visitors comfortable, including installing fog systems in outdoor sitting areas to help fight relentless heat.