Updated on: August 6, 2026 / 8:23 AM EDT
/ CBS/AP
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Italy placed all of its major cities under the highest heat alert Thursday as a blistering heat wave gripped Europe. The heat has set a national temperature record in Austria, fueled wildfires in France and disrupted energy and transport systems across the continent. Temperatures have climbed to above 104 degrees Fahrenheit in several countries, prompting health warnings for millions of people.Italy's health ministry placed all 27 cities it monitors under its national heat surveillance system on red alert Thursday — the first time this year the entire network has been under the highest warning level simultaneously. The alerts stretch from Trieste in the northeast to Palermo in Sicily and signal a health risk for the entire population. Residents and tourists were urged to avoid direct sunlight during the hottest hours of the day, remain inside when possible and drink plenty of water. Adjustments were made at major tourist attractions, with evening opening hours extended at landmarks like Rome's Colosseum and Pantheon.
People protect themselves from the sun outside the Duomo Cathedral during a heatwave in Milan, Italy, on Aug. 5, 2026.
