Italy has declared a red heatwave alert in 15 cities, including Rome and Milan, as extreme temperatures continue to sweep across Europe, triggering public health warnings, transport disruptions and rising casualties.
The Italian health ministry said the red alert, the highest level of heat warning, will expand to 16 cities on Wednesday. Authorities have urged residents to stay indoors during peak afternoon hours, eat light meals and take precautions to avoid heat-related illness.
Scientists have long warned that repeated heatwaves are a clear sign of accelerating global warming, with such extreme weather events expected to become more frequent, longer and more intense in the coming years.
Across Europe, the heatwave has already led to deadly consequences. In France, officials reported a sharp rise in drowning incidents as people rushed to rivers, lakes and beaches to escape soaring temperatures. Around 20 people have died over the weekend, according to government figures, up from an earlier estimate of 13.
French authorities have also stepped up emergency responses. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu is expected to chair a crisis meeting to review the ongoing situation, while more than 1,350 schools have been closed due to unsafe conditions. Weather agencies say France has recorded its hottest June average temperature on record at 29.2°C.
In a rare operational impact, a nuclear reactor in southwestern France was temporarily shut down after river water used for cooling exceeded safe temperature limits. Officials said the Garonne River had warmed beyond 28°C, forcing the precautionary shutdown.
Belgium is also bracing for an extended heatwave, with meteorologists warning of some of the highest temperatures ever recorded. Several schools have already reduced hours to cope with the extreme conditions.
Germany has reported at least five deaths linked to swimming accidents over the weekend, as people attempted to cool off in lakes and coastal waters. Authorities also warned of heat-related medical emergencies, including cases at Frankfurt Airport where passengers fell ill after prolonged exposure on grounded aircraft.
Tragedy was also reported in France, where two young children, aged two and four, were found dead inside a parked car in the southeast amid soaring temperatures. Investigators are treating the case as heat-related.
Transport systems across the region are under strain. Officials in Paris have advised commuters to postpone non-essential travel and work from home where possible, warning that rail infrastructure becomes unsafe in extreme heat.
In the United Kingdom, the Meteorological Office has issued its highest heat warning for parts of England, including London and Birmingham. Temperatures could reach up to 40°C, potentially breaking long-standing June records dating back to 1957 and 1976.
Authorities across Europe continue to urge caution as the heatwave intensifies, warning that vulnerable groups, including children and the elderly, remain at highest risk.
