Severe heatwave triggers emergency measures across Italy and Hungary

A intense heatwave is sweeping across Central and Southern Europe, with temperatures in Hungary projected to reach 41 degrees Celsius over the coming days. In response, the Hungarian government has implemented a total ban on outdoor fires and is urging factories to voluntarily reduce power consumption to prevent grid failure. Meanwhile, the city of Szentendre is facing severe water shortages, prompting military intervention to supply residents with tanker trucks and bottled water. Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar also noted that critically low water levels in the Danube River may impact the restart of the Paks nuclear power plant.

Italy is simultaneously battling its fourth heatwave of the season, with the Ministry of Health placing 25 out of 27 major cities under red alert as of early August. Authorities have warned that the extreme heat poses risks even to healthy individuals, while firefighters are on high alert in Sardinia and the Bologna region due to wildfire hazards. More than 100 municipalities in the Piedmont and Lombardy regions are suffering from water scarcity, exacerbated by record-low levels in the Po River, which has sparked warnings from agricultural organizations regarding the impact on national farming.