15 Italian cities have received red alerts due to the heat wave in Europe

Red alerts have been issued for 15 cities across Italy as extreme heat continues to affect southern Europe. Tourist hotspots like Rome, Florence, and Bologna are expected to face risks, even for healthy people. The European Space Agency (ESA) warns that Italy, Spain, France, Germany, and Poland may see extreme conditions next week. The hottest temperature ever recorded in Europe was 48.8C in Sicily in August 2021, and forecasts suggest similar levels could be reached this week. The Italian government has advised people in areas covered by Saturday's red alerts to avoid direct sunlight between 11:00 and 18:00 and to take particular care of the elderly or vulnerable. Greece has hit temperatures 40C or more in recent days, with the Acropolis, the country's most popular tourist attraction, closed during the hottest hours of Friday to protect visitors. There are also fears of a greater risk of wildfires, especially in areas with high winds. High temperatures have also reached central parts of Europe, with Germany and Poland among affected countries. Czechia's meteorological office issued a warning that temperatures over the weekend could go above 38C, which is exceptionally high for the country. Heavy showers and gusty winds are expected in parts of England on Saturday. Italian weather forecasters are warning that the next heatwave, dubbed Charon after the ferryman who delivered souls into the underworld in Greek mythology, will push temperatures back up above 40C next week. Heatwaves are also being seen in parts of the US, China, North Africa, and Japan. The Greek Red Cross has been deployed to provide water bottles and help people feeling nauseous and dizzy in the heat. People have been advised to drink at least two liters of water a day and avoid coffee and alcohol, which are dehydrating.