A new wave of extreme heat has hit Italy. The air temperature in most regions of the country reached +41°C, and in less than a day, at least five people have died from the effects of the heat.
This is reported by The Guardian, as conveyed by bb.lv.
According to the publication, a series of tragic incidents related to the abnormal heat occurred in different regions of the country. Among the deceased is a 57-year-old man who died while working in a field near the city of Lodi, not far from Milan. Later, it became known about the death of a 61-year-old vineyard worker in the Piacenza area, a 56-year-old man who suffered a fatal attack while visiting a cemetery in Garlasco, a homeless person found dead in Naples, and a worker who lost consciousness while repairing a water infrastructure facility in the Padua area.
The extreme heat has also led to an overload of the country's energy system. According to RAI, power outages caused disruptions in air conditioning systems in several major cities, including the Uffizi Gallery in Florence. As a result, the museum had to limit visitor access and temporarily suspend ticket sales.
Currently, the maximum - "red" - level of heat danger has been declared in 18 cities in Italy. In several regions, restrictions have been imposed on outdoor work during the hottest hours of the day. However, some workers oppose these measures, fearing loss of income.
Unions have urged authorities to use reserve funds to compensate the income of those who are forced to stop working due to the extreme heat. In their opinion, protecting the lives and health of people should become an unconditional priority in the face of increasingly frequent and prolonged periods of abnormal heat.
