Italy placed all its major cities under the highest heat alert Thursday as an intense heatwave swept across Europe, setting national temperature records in Austria and Slovakia, fuelling wildfires in France, and disrupting power generation, transport and tourism across the continent.

Austria recorded its highest temperature ever as a severe heatwave grips Europe. Hungarians reduced power use to ease grid pressure amid a significant drought. Italy issued red…

Italy has placed all major cities under the highest heat alert as Europe faces a severe heat wave