Italy experiences record-breaking heatwave

Italy is currently experiencing its hottest summer in the last century, with July officially surpassing the previous record set in 2003. A fourth consecutive heatwave is impacting the country and is expected to last for at least another ten days. In Afragola, near Naples, temperatures reached a record high of 48 degrees Celsius. The national Civil Protection department has placed twenty-six cities on the highest level of alert for tomorrow as the extreme weather continues to affect northern, central, and southern regions.

The persistent heat has already resulted in fatalities, including an eighty-one-year-old man in Bisceglie, Puglia, who suffered a fatal cardiac arrest while preparing to enter the sea. Authorities believe the medical emergency was likely triggered by the extreme temperatures. Meanwhile, in Sardinia, farmers and livestock breeders have reported significant agricultural damage due to the ongoing heat and drought. These groups are now formally requesting that the government declare a state of emergency to provide necessary relief and assistance.