Heatwave emergency: red alert in 18 cities; Ministry focuses on mental health
From today, Genoa joins the list of 17 regional capitals in the grip of the sweltering summer heat: a circular is due to be issued that will extend the monitoring of admissions to specialist medical centres in major cities to include A&E departments
The number of cities in Italy under a ‘red alert’ for heat has risen to 18: Genoa has been added today to the list that stood at 17 yesterday, and as the heatwave grips the country, the Ministry of Health has convened a technical committee meeting on the heatwave emergency today.
“Heatwaves,” the experts point out, “occur when very high temperatures are recorded over several consecutive days, often accompanied by high humidity, strong solar radiation and a lack of ventilation. These weather conditions can pose a risk to public health.”
To provide information on the potential health effects of heatwaves, the Ministry produces daily bulletins for 27 cities, with forecasts for 24, 48 and 72 hours ahead. The bulletins are published on Portal is active for 2026 from 25 May to 20 September. The bulletins are updated from Monday to Friday at 11.00 and can also be viewed via the “Caldo e Salute” app, available for Android devices on Google Play.
The Scorching Cities
The cities currently under a Level 3 alert due to “Caronte” are Ancona, Bari, Bologna, Bolzano and Brescia, followed by Florence, Frosinone, Latina, Milan, Perugia, Pescara, Rieti and Rome. Turin, Venice, Verona and Viterbo, plus the ‘new entry’ Genoa.
Campobasso, Civitavecchia, Naples, Palermo, Reggio Calabria and Trieste have moved from Alert Level 1 to Level 2, and therefore from a yellow to an orange alert.
Circular coming soon
The latest meeting of the Inter-institutional Steering Group, convened as part of the National Operational Plan for the Forecasting and Prevention of the Effects of Heat, analysed the data collected between 15 May and 22 June by the Department of Emergency and Protection regarding deaths among the over-65s and visits to A&E departments. At present, these figures do not show any significant peaks coinciding with heatwaves. Data monitoring will continue and, as agreed at the meeting, will be integrated, on a trial basis, within the health authorities of certain major cities, alongside a system to monitor visits to local mental health centres. This guidance will be set out in a specific circular which – as the Ministry has indicated – will also focus on the issue of major events in coordination with local health authorities and other relevant institutions.
