STORY: Italy hit by third major heatwave this summer
DATELINE: Aug. 22, 2023
LENGTH: 00:01:39
LOCATION: Rome
CATEGORY: ENVIRONMENT

SHOTLIST:
1. various of street view
2. various of farm

STORYLINE:

Italy is in the grip of its third major heatwave of this summer, as the hottest two-year period on record continues in the country.

The Ministry of Health said Monday that by mid-week, 17 of Italy's 27 largest cities will be on "red alert" for heat. A new record of 20 out of 27 cities was set in July.

The cities currently set to be put on red alert by Wednesday include Bologna, Florence, Milan, Naples, Rome and Turin. A dozen cities were already on red alert as of Monday.

Temperatures in cities across central and southern parts of the country are expected to surpass 40 degrees Celsius in the coming days. It is the third time since June that temperatures are set to exceed this level on a wide scale.

A "red alert" means that even young people in good health are at risk during the hottest part of the day.

Italy's main agriculture union Coldiretti said Monday that this year is already the third-hottest in Italy since record-keeping began in 1800, while last year was the hottest.

Although the heatwaves in 2022 were longer, this year's heatwaves have been more intense, setting record temperatures in dozens of cities. Last month was the hottest July ever recorded in Italy.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Rome.
(XHTV)