Italy Battles Record-Breaking Heatwave with 23 Cities on Red Alert
As the summer sun beats down on Italy, the country is experiencing a severe heatwave, with electricity consumption reaching an all-time high for 2023. On Tuesday, July 18, the Italian grid operator Terna reported a peak usage of 57.85 GW at 14:45, the highest so far this year. This surge in electricity usage is largely attributed to the increased use of air conditioning and electric fans as people try to stay cool.
Although this is a significant increase, it falls short of Italy’s all-time record of 60.5 GW, which was set on July 22, 2015. The heatwave has also caused multiple reports of electricity blackouts in Rome, with news outlet RomaToday reporting that energy grids are under strain from high air-conditioning usage. The city’s Metro A subway was also forced to stop running early on Wednesday due to a power cut, with service resuming by mid-morning.
Red Alert Heatwave Warning Issued for 23 Cities
Italy’s health ministry has issued a red alert heatwave warning for 23 major cities on Wednesday, including Ancona, Bari, Bologna, Brescia, Cagliari, Campobasso, Catania, Civitavecchia, Florence, Frosinone, Latina, Messina, Naples, Palermo, Perugia, Pescara, Rieti, Rome, Turin, Trieste, Venice, Verona, and Viterbo. This red alert indicates emergency conditions with possible negative effects on not just the elderly, sick, or very young, but also on healthy and active people. The Ministry of Health has advised citizens to take precautions and follow useful advice to protect themselves from the heat.
As the heatwave continues to affect Italy, it is essential for citizens to stay informed and take necessary precautions to stay safe. The Italian government and health ministry are working to mitigate the effects of the heatwave, and citizens can stay up-to-date with the latest information and advice on social media platforms, such as Twitter, where the Ministry of Health is providing regular updates.
For those looking for ways to stay cool and safe during the heatwave, there are several resources available. The Wanted in Rome website provides news and updates on the heatwave, as well as tips and advice on how to stay safe. Additionally, the Wanted in Rome Twitter account is providing regular updates and photos, such as this photo of Rome taken on July 18.